Stent segments axially connected by thin film
First Claim
1. A stent for insertion into a vessel of a patient, the stent comprising:
- a) a tubular member having front and back open ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, the tubular member having a first smaller diameter for percutaneous insertion into the vessel and a second larger diameter for deployment in the vessel;
b) the tubular member comprising a structural frame having a plurality of only discrete, independent, and unconnected adjacent hoops having inner and outer diameters and extending between the front and back ends of the tubular member, the hoops comprise a plurality of longitudinal struts and a plurality of loops connecting adjacent struts each of the plurality of longitudinal struts having a luminal surface, an abluminal surface, and side walls extending between the luminal and abluminal surfaces; and
c) a metallic thin film tube having inner and outer diameters, the thin film tube being affixed to at least a portion of the hoops and holding the plurality of hoops apart from each other and in alignment with the longitudinal axis, wherein when the tubular member is in the first smaller diameter, the thin film tube is folded axially inward between at least some circumferentially adjacent longitudinal struts, so as to extend past the abluminal surface and in between the side walls of the circumferentially adjacent longitudinal struts, the portions of the folded thin film tube containing bends defining a bending line, and the bending line being parallel to the longitudinal axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a stent for insertion into a vessel of a patient. The stent has a front and back open ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The stent has a plurality of adjacent hoops that are held in alignment with the longitudinal axis between the front and back open ends by a thin film tube. The hoops are attached to either the inner or outer surface of the thin film tube. The stent is compressed into a first smaller diameter for insertion into the vessel with a delivery tube and a second larger diameter for deployment into the vessel. The inventive stent can be retracted into the delivery tube if it is improperly deployed.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A stent for insertion into a vessel of a patient, the stent comprising:
- a) a tubular member having front and back open ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, the tubular member having a first smaller diameter for percutaneous insertion into the vessel and a second larger diameter for deployment in the vessel;
b) the tubular member comprising a structural frame having a plurality of only discrete, independent, and unconnected adjacent hoops having inner and outer diameters and extending between the front and back ends of the tubular member, the hoops comprise a plurality of longitudinal struts and a plurality of loops connecting adjacent struts each of the plurality of longitudinal struts having a luminal surface, an abluminal surface, and side walls extending between the luminal and abluminal surfaces; and
c) a metallic thin film tube having inner and outer diameters, the thin film tube being affixed to at least a portion of the hoops and holding the plurality of hoops apart from each other and in alignment with the longitudinal axis, wherein when the tubular member is in the first smaller diameter, the thin film tube is folded axially inward between at least some circumferentially adjacent longitudinal struts, so as to extend past the abluminal surface and in between the side walls of the circumferentially adjacent longitudinal struts, the portions of the folded thin film tube containing bends defining a bending line, and the bending line being parallel to the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16)
- a) a tubular member having front and back open ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, the tubular member having a first smaller diameter for percutaneous insertion into the vessel and a second larger diameter for deployment in the vessel;
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11. A stent for insertion into a vessel of a patient, the stent comprising:
- a) a tubular member having front and back open ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, the tubular member having a first smaller diameter for percutaneous insertion into the vessel and a second larger diameter for deployment in the vessel;
b) the tubular member comprising a structural frame having a plurality of only discrete, independent and unconnected adjacent hoops made from a superelastic nickel titanium alloy, the hoops having an inner and outer surface defining a thickness there between, and extending between the front and back ends of the tubular member, the hoops comprise a plurality of longitudinal struts and a plurality of loops connecting adjacent struts; and
c) a metallic thin film tube made from a superelastic nickel titanium alloy affixed to at least a portion of the hoops, the thin film tube having inner and outer diameters and holding the plurality of hoops apart from each other and in alignment with the longitudinal axis, wherein when the tubular member is in the first smaller diameter, the thin film tube is folded between at least some circumferentially adjacent longitudinal struts so as to extend into an area circumferentially adjacent the hoop thickness, the portions of folded thin film tube containing bends defining a bending line, and the bending line being parallel to the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
- a) a tubular member having front and back open ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, the tubular member having a first smaller diameter for percutaneous insertion into the vessel and a second larger diameter for deployment in the vessel;
Specification