Intralumenally-implantable frames

• US 8,470,020 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2012
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schaeffer, Darin G., Flagle, Jacob A., Garrison, Michael L., Case, Brian C., Hoffa, Andrew K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sweet, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEWART, JASON-DENNIS NEILKEN
• Application Number:
  US13/447,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20120203327A1
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.15, 623/1.16
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/06 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2475 Venous valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/86 Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• 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 2002/068 Modifying the blood flow model, e.g. by diffuser or deflector
• 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 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91575 connected peak to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0058 soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0037 differing in height or in length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter

Abstract

Implantable frames for use in body passages are provided herein. The implantable frames can include a plurality of hoop members joined by a plurality of longitudinal connecting members to form a tubular frame defining a cylindrical lumen. The plurality of longitudinal connecting members may include first and second longitudinal connecting members joining a first hoop member to a second hoop member such that the first and second longitudinal connecting members extend across an entire space separating the first and second hoop members.

Claims

1. An implantable frame defining a lumen extending between a proximal end and a distal end along a longitudinal axis, the implantable frame moveable between a compressed state and an expanded state and comprising:

a proximal hoop member;

a distal hoop member;

one or more additional hoop members positioned between the proximal and distal hoop members along said longitudinal axis;

each hoop member comprising a plurality of interconnected struts and bends arranged in an undulating shape;

wherein each hoop member of the one or more additional hoop members is connected to a longitudinally adjacent hoop member by an array of longitudinal connecting members arranged in pairs of closely-spaced longitudinal connecting members; and

wherein a first pair of closely-spaced longitudinal connecting members is disposed between a first strut of the plurality of interconnected struts of a hoop member and a circumferentially adjacent second strut of the plurality of interconnected struts of the hoop member.

2. The implantable frame of claim 1, wherein the proximal and distal hoop members are oriented in opposite directions relative to said lengthwise axis.

3. The implantable frame of claim 1, comprising a first hoop member and a longitudinally adjacent second hoop member;

and

wherein the first pair of closely-spaced longitudinal connecting members extends from a first bend of the first hoop member toward and axially-beyond a second bend of the second hoop member.

4. The implantable frame of claim 3, wherein the first hoop member comprises one of the one or more additional hoop members.

5. The implantable frame of claim 4, wherein the second hoop member comprises one of the proximal and distal hoop members.

6. The implantable frame of claim 4, wherein the one or more additional hoop members comprises two or more hoop members;

and

wherein the second hoop member comprises another of the one or more additional hoop members.

7. The implantable frame of claim 3, comprising a third hoop member longitudinally adjacent to the first hoop member;

and

wherein a second pair of closely-spaced longitudinal connecting members extends from a third bend of the first hoop member toward and axially beyond a fourth bend of the third hoop member.

8. The implantable frame of claim 7, wherein the first hoop member comprises one of the one or more additional hoop members.

9. The implantable frame of claim 8, wherein the one or more additional hoop members comprises two or more hoop members;

and

wherein the second hoop member comprises another of the one or more additional hoop members.

10. The implantable frame of claim 9, wherein the third hoop member comprises one of the proximal and distal hoop members.

11. The implantable frame of claim 9, wherein the one or more additional hoop members comprises three or more hoop members;

and

wherein the third hoop member comprises another of the one or more additional hoop members.

12. The implantable frame of claim 3, wherein the one or more additional hoop members comprises two or more hoop members;

and

wherein each hoop member of the two or more hoop members have one of two different configurations relative to said lengthwise axis.

13. The implantable frame of claim 3, further comprising a radiopaque marker.

14. The implantable frame of claim 13, wherein the radiopaque marker is attached to a bridging member extending between first and second struts of a hoop member.

15. The implantable frame of claim 1, wherein the implantable frame is self-expandable.

16. The implantable frame of claim 15, wherein the implantable frame comprises a shape memory alloy.

17. The implantable frame of claim 1, wherein the implantable frame requires mechanical expansion to move from the compressed state to the expanded state.

18. The implantable frame of claim 1, wherein the implantable frame includes a bioactive agent.

19. An implantable frame defining a lumen extending between a proximal end and a distal end along a longitudinal axis, the implantable frame moveable between a compressed state and an expanded state and comprising:

a proximal hoop member;

a distal hoop member;

one or more additional hoop members positioned between the proximal and distal hoop members along said longitudinal axis;

each hoop member comprising a plurality of interconnected struts and bends arranged in an undulating shape;

wherein each hoop member of the one or more additional hoop members is connected to a longitudinally adjacent hoop member by an array of longitudinal connecting members arranged in pairs of closely-spaced longitudinal connecting members;

wherein a first pair of closely-spaced longitudinal connecting members is disposed between a first strut of the plurality of interconnected struts of a hoop member and a circumferentially adjacent second strut of the plurality of interconnected struts of the hoop member;

wherein each pair of a first set of the pairs of closely-spaced longitudinal connecting member extends from a bend of a first hoop member of the one or more additional hoop members and toward and axially-beyond a bend of a longitudinally adjacent second hoop member;

wherein each pair of a second set of the pairs of closely-spaced longitudinal connecting members extends from a bend of the first hoop member toward and axially beyond a bend of a longitudinally adjacent third hoop member.

20. An implantable frame defining a lumen extending between a proximal end and a distal end along a longitudinal axis, the implantable frame moveable between a compressed state and an expanded state and comprising:

a proximal hoop member oriented in a first direction relative to said lengthwise axis;

a distal hoop member oriented in a second, opposite directions relative to said lengthwise axis;

one or more additional hoop members positioned between the proximal and distal hoop members along said longitudinal axis;

each hoop member comprising a plurality of interconnected struts and bends arranged in an undulating shape;

wherein each hoop member of the one or more additional hoop members is connected to a longitudinally adjacent hoop member by an array of longitudinal connecting members arranged in pairs of closely-spaced longitudinal connecting members;

wherein a first pair of closely-spaced longitudinal connecting members is disposed between a first strut of the plurality of interconnected struts of a hoop member and a circumferentially adjacent second strut of the plurality of interconnected struts of the hoop member;

wherein each pair of a first set of the pairs of closely-spaced longitudinal connecting members extends from a bend of a first hoop member of the one or more additional hoop members and toward and axially-beyond a bend of a longitudinally adjacent second hoop member;

wherein each pair of a second set of the pairs of closely-spaced longitudinal connecting members extends from a bend of the first hoop member toward and axially beyond a bend of a longitudinally adjacent third hoop member.