Non-shortening helical stent

• US 7,914,570 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2004
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Brown, Brian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Manahan; Todd E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Simpson; Sarah A
• Application Number:
  US10/960,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20060079955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,364 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.15, 623/1.22
• US Class Current: 623/1.22
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/885 comprising a coil including a plurality of spiral or helical sections with alternate directions around a central axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0058 soldered or brazed or welded

Abstract

A stent may comprise a helically wound ribbon of material. The stent may comprise a plurality of ribbon turns about a longitudinal axis of the stent. Upon expansion of the stent, the diameter of the stent may increase and the number of ribbon turns may decrease. Upon expansion of the stent, the width of the ribbon may increase. The length of the stent may be the same in unexpanded and expanded states.

Claims

1. A stent comprising a helically wound ribbon of material, the stent having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, the ribbon having a width dimension, wherein the stent is constructed and arranged such that the width dimension of the ribbon in an expanded state of the stent exceeds the width dimension of the ribbon in an unexpanded state of the stent, the ribbon comprises a first rail and a second rail, the first rail connected to the second rail by a plurality of connector struts;

wherein the first rail is slidably engaged with the second rail.

2. An unexpanded coil stent comprising:

a strip helically wound about a longitudinal axis of the stent, the strip having a width dimension;

the strip having a predetermined number of turns about the longitudinal axis,

wherein upon expansion of the stent, the number of turns of the strip about the longitudinal axis decreases and the width dimension of the strip increases.

3. The stent of claim 2 wherein the strip comprises a plurality of loops which lengthen in the longitudinal direction of the stent upon expansion of the stent.

4. The stent of claim 2 wherein adjacent turns of the strip are separated by a gap, the gap spiraling continuously from one end of the stent to the other end of the stent.

5. The stent of claim 2 wherein adjacent turns of the strip are separated by a gap, the gap spiraling continuously at least 360°

about the longitudinal axis of the stent.

6. The stent of claim 5 wherein in an unexpanded state, the width dimension of the strip is constant.

7. The stent of claim 2 wherein adjacent turns of the strip are separated by a gap, the gap spiraling continuously at least 720°

about the longitudinal axis of the stent.

8. The stent of claim 2 wherein in an unexpanded state, the width dimension of the strip is constant.

9. The stent of claim 2 wherein in an unexpanded state, the width dimension of the strip varies over at least a portion of the strip.