Stent with variable features to optimize support and method of making such stent

• US 7,998,193 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2010
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medinol Limited (Medinol USA Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Medinol Limited (Medinol USA Incorporated)
• Inventors: Richter, Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse; David H
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLANCO, JAVIER G
• Application Number:
  US12/776,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20100280593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 623 115- 118
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• 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 2002/91541 Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0018 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0042 differing in shape-memory transition temperatures, e.g. in martensitic transition temperature, in austenitic transition temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An intravascular stent especially suited for implanting in curved arterial portions or ostial regions. The stent can include an end region which is fabricated to have a greater radial strength than the remaining axial length of the stent. Such a stent is particularly suited for use in ostial regions, which require greater support near the end of the stent. The stent alternatively can include sections adjacent the end of the stent with greater bending flexibility than the remaining axial length of the stent. Such a stent is particularly suited for use in curved arteries. The stent can also be constructed with an end that has greater radial strength and sections adjacent the end with greater bending flexibility. Such a stent prevents flaring of the stent end during insertion.

Claims

1. An expandable tubular stent, comprising in both expanded and unexpanded form:

a) a plurality of interconnected flexible cells defining a stent having a proximal end, a central section, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis, the cells arranged in a plurality of interconnected flexible rows of cells disposed along the longitudinal axis of the stent with at least one distal row disposed at the distal end of the stent and at least one proximal row disposed at the proximal end of the stent, each of the flexible cells comprising a first member, a second member, a third member and, a fourth member;

b) a first C-shaped loop disposed between the first member and the third member;

c) a second C-shaped loop disposed between the second member and the fourth member;

d) a first flexible loop connector disposed between the first member and the second member; and

e) a second flexible loop connector disposed between the third member and the fourth member;

adjacent rows of cells connected to each other;

wherein the first and third members of the cells of a distal end row of cells are shorter than the second and fourth members of said cells, wherein said distal end exerts greater radial strength than said central section of the stent.

2. The stent of claim 1, wherein the first and the third members in the cells of the distal end row of cells are about 15% shorter than the second and the fourth members.

3. An expandable tubular stent, comprising in both expanded and unexpanded form:

a) a plurality of interconnected flexible cells defining a stent having a proximal end, a central section, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis, the cells arranged in a plurality of interconnected flexible rows of cells disposed along the longitudinal axis of the stent with at least one distal row disposed at the distal end of the stent and at least one proximal row disposed at the proximal end of the stent, each of the flexible cells comprising a first member, a second member, a third member and, a fourth member;

b) a first C-shaped loop disposed between the first member and the third member;

c) a second C-shaped loop disposed between the second member and the fourth member;

d) a first flexible loop connector disposed between the first member and the second member; and

e) a second flexible loop connector disposed between the third member and the fourth member;

adjacent rows of cells connected to each other;

wherein the second and fourth members of the cells of a proximal end row of cells are shorter than the first and third members of said cells, wherein said proximal end exerts greater radial strength than said central section of the stent.

4. The stent of claim 3, wherein the second and the fourth members in the cells of the proximal end row of cells are about 15% shorter than the first and the third members.

5. An expandable tubular stent, comprising in both expanded and unexpanded form:

a) a plurality of interconnected flexible cells defining a stent having a proximal end, a central section, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis, the cells arranged in a plurality of interconnected flexible rows of cells disposed along the longitudinal axis of the stent with at least one distal row disposed at the distal end of the stent and at least one proximal row disposed at the proximal end of the stent, each of the flexible cells comprising a first member, a second member, a third member and, a fourth member;

b) a first C-shaped loop disposed between the first member and the third member;

c) a second C-shaped loop disposed between the second member and the fourth member;

d) a first flexible loop connector disposed between the first member and the second member; and

e) a second flexible loop connector disposed between the third member and the fourth member;

adjacent rows of cells connected to each other;

wherein the first and third members of the cells of a distal end row of cells are shorter than the second and fourth members, and the second and fourth members of the cells of a proximal end row of cells are shorter than the first and third members, wherein said distal end and said proximal end exert greater radial strength than said central section of the stent.

6. The stent of claim 5, wherein the first and the third members in the cells of the distal end row of cells are about 15% shorter than the second and the fourth members, and the second and the fourth members in the cells of the proximal end row of cells are about 15% shorter than the first and the third members.