Stent and method for manufacturing the stent
First Claim
1. A stent, comprising:
- struts joined together to form a series of helical turns and defining an outer circumferential cylinder of the stent in an expanded state of the stent, the struts having first and second curved strut portions connecting adjacent straight strut portions, the second curved strut portions extending farther from the straight strut portions than the first curved strut portions; and
connecting bridges disposed between each of the series of helical turns, each connecting bridge having one bridge strut with first and second ends, the first bridge strut end connected directly to a second curved strut portion of one of the series of helical turns and the second bridge strut end connected directly to a second curved strut portion of an adjacent one of the series of helical turns, the connecting bridges having edges perpendicular to an axis of the stent, the connecting bridges being raised from the outer circumferential cylinder when the stent is in the expanded state.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A stent includes a stent body having a circumference, a diameter of between approximately 4 mm and approximately 12 mm, in particular, 8 mm, and a length of between approximately 10 mm and approximately 250 mm, in particular, 150 mm, and struts disposed helically about the circumference in turns. Substantially circumferentially oriented connecting bridges connect respectively adjacent ones of the turns. A method for manufacturing a helical stent includes the steps of providing a stent body with struts disposed about the circumference thereof in turns and with bridges connecting the struts in adjacent turns. The stent body is expanded and, thereafter, some of the bridges, in particular, sacrificial bridges, are removed.
119 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A stent, comprising:
-
struts joined together to form a series of helical turns and defining an outer circumferential cylinder of the stent in an expanded state of the stent, the struts having first and second curved strut portions connecting adjacent straight strut portions, the second curved strut portions extending farther from the straight strut portions than the first curved strut portions; and connecting bridges disposed between each of the series of helical turns, each connecting bridge having one bridge strut with first and second ends, the first bridge strut end connected directly to a second curved strut portion of one of the series of helical turns and the second bridge strut end connected directly to a second curved strut portion of an adjacent one of the series of helical turns, the connecting bridges having edges perpendicular to an axis of the stent, the connecting bridges being raised from the outer circumferential cylinder when the stent is in the expanded state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13)
-
-
9. A stent, comprising:
-
struts joined together to form a series of helical turns and defining a circumference of the stent, the series of helical turns defining a helical gap between adjacent turns, the struts having first and second curved strut portions connecting adjacent straight strut portions, the second curved strut portions extending farther from the straight strut portions than the first curved strut portions; and connecting bridges connecting adjacent turns across the helical gap, each connecting bridge having one bridge strut with first and second ends, the first bridge strut end connected directly to a second curved strut portion of one of the series of helical turns and the second bridge strut end connected directly to a second curved strut portion of an adjacent one of the series of helical turns, the connecting bridges curved in a plane perpendicular to an axis of the stent, the connecting bridges being raised from the outer circumference of the stent when the stent is in an expanded state. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 14, 15)
-
Specification