Stent having helical elements

• US 7,942,922 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2010
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: OrbusNeich Medical Pte Ltd
• Original Assignee: Orbusneich Medical Incorporated (Orbusneich Medical)
• Inventors: Addonizio, Scott J., Camp, David L. Jr., Becker, Gary J., Pazienza, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Isabella; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stroud; Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US12/878,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20100324662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 250 Days
• Field of Search: 623 11- 118
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• 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 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/915 with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91508 the meander having a difference in amplitude along the band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91516 the meander having a change in frequency along the band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91525 within the whole structure different bands showing different meander characteristics, e.g. frequency or amplitude
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91541 Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9155 Adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91583 by a bridge, whereby at least one of its ends is connected along the length of a strut between two consecutive apices within a band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped

Abstract

An expandable stent comprised of a plurality of helical segments is disclosed. In one embodiment, the stent is generally cylindrical in shape having a cylindrical axis, and comprises a first and second set of helical segments. The helical segments in the first set are substantially parallel and have a first pitch forming a first helical angle with respect to the cylindrical axis. The helical segments in the second set are also generally parallel to each other and form a second pitch that differs from the first pitch, thereby forming a second helical angle with respect to the cylindrical axis. In an alternative embodiment, the stent comprises one set of helical segments and a plurality of circumferential elements that are joined together by the helical segments to form a plurality of cylindrical elements which are joined together to form a stent body. The stent may also have endzones.

Claims

1. An expandable stent, comprising:

a plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements connected to one another by a plurality of connecting elements;

each cylindrical element including a plurality of first circumferential segments, each first circumferential segment extending between two connecting elements and including five linear segments;

each cylindrical element including a plurality of second circumferential segments, each second circumferential segment extending between two connecting elements and including three linear segments;

the first and second circumferential segments alternating with one another in each cylindrical element;

wherein the first circumferential segments of adjacent cylindrical elements are offset from each other to form a first helical segment consisting of a plurality of the first circumferential segments alternating with a plurality of the connecting elements; and

wherein the second circumferential segments of adjacent cylindrical elements are offset from each other to form a second helical segment including a plurality of second circumferential segments alternating with a plurality of the connecting elements.

2. The stent of claim 1, wherein the stent is in an unexpanded state.

3. The stent of claim 1, wherein the stent is in an expanded state.

4. The stent of claim 1, wherein the linear portions of the first circumferential segment are connected to each other by curved portions, and the linear portions of the second circumferential segment are connected to each other by curved portions.

5. The stent of claim 4, wherein the curved portions of at least two adjacent cylindrical elements are circumferentially offset from one another.

6. The stent of claim 1, wherein the first helical segment crosses the second helical segment.

7. The stent of claim 1, further comprising first and second endzones straddling a main body of the stent.

8. An expandable stent, comprising:

a plurality of adjacent cylindrical rings connected by a plurality of connecting elements;

each cylindrical ring defined by a plurality of first circumferential segments alternating with a plurality of second circumferential segments, each first circumferential segment including five linear struts positioned between two connecting elements, and each second circumferential segment including three linear struts positioned between two connecting elements;

a first helical segment defined by a plurality of the first circumferential segments alternating with a plurality of the connecting elements; and

a second helical segment consisting of a plurality of the second circumferential segments alternating with a plurality of the connecting elements.

9. The stent of claim 8, wherein the stent is in an unexpanded state.

10. The stent of claim 8, wherein the first helical segment crosses the second helical segment.

11. The stent of claim 8, wherein the linear struts of the first circumferential segment are connected to each other by curved portions, and the linear struts of the second circumferential segment are connected to each other by curved portions.

12. The stent of claim 11, wherein the curved portions of at least two adjacent cylindrical elements are circumferentially offset from one another.

13. The stent of claim 8, wherein the stent defines a cylindrical axis and at least one of the connecting segments forms an angle with respect to the cylindrical axis.

14. The stent of claim 8, further comprising at least one endzone connected to one of the cylindrical rings.

15. The stent of claim 14, wherein the endzone comprises a plurality of rings joined together by a plurality of struts.

16. An expandable stent, comprising:

a plurality of adjacent cylindrical rings connected by a plurality of connecting elements;

wherein the connecting elements are spaced apart by a plurality of first circumferential segments including five linear struts and a plurality of second circumferential segments including three linear struts in an alternating pattern to define a first helical segment consisting of a plurality of the first circumferential segments alternating with a plurality of the connecting elements and a second helical segment having a plurality of the second circumferential segments alternating with a plurality of the connecting elements, wherein the first helical segment crosses the second helical segment.

17. The stent of claim 16, wherein the stent is in an unexpanded state.

18. The stent of claim 16, wherein the linear struts of the first circumferential segment are connected to each other by curved portions, and the linear struts of the second circumferential segment are connected to each other by curved portions.

19. The stent of claim 18, wherein the curved portions of at least two adjacent cylindrical rings are circumferentially staggered from each another.

20. The stent of claim 16, further comprising at least one endzone connected to one of the cylindrical rings.