Stent with horseshoe shaped bridges
First Claim
1. A stent comprising:
- an unexpanded configuration, a nominally expanded configuration, and an fully expanded configuration;
a plurality of longitudinally adjacent circumferential bands; and
a plurality of connectors;
in the unexpanded configuration, each circumferential band comprising;
a plurality of circumferentially adjacent strut pairs; and
a plurality of bridges, each strut pair comprising a first strut and a second strut, the first strut and the second strut being joined to one another by one of the bridges at a joined end, the first strut being angularly offset from the second strut by an acute angle;
each bridge comprising two straight segments connected to one another by a u-shaped segment, the two straight segments being parallel to one another and angularly offset relative to the first and second struts, bridges extending into an opening defined by the first and second struts;
longitudinally adjacent circumferential bands being connected one to another by at least one of the connectors,wherein the first and second struts are wider than the straight segments, and the bridges of longitudinally adjacent circumferential bands are circumferentially offset from one another; and
wherein a distance between the first strut and the second strut at the joined end is less than a distance between the first strut and the second strut at an unjoined end when the stent is in the nominally expanded configuration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In at least one embodiment, a stent includes an unexpanded configuration, a nominally expanded configuration, and a fully expanded configuration. The stent further includes a plurality of circumferential bands and a plurality of connectors connecting adjacent circumferential bands to one another. Each circumferential band has a plurality of struts interconnected by bridges. Adjacent struts form strut pairs and are connected to one another at a first end or a second end but not both. Each strut pair defines an opening between the struts of the strut pair; the bridges extend into the openings. In the unexpanded configuration, the struts are straight along their length. Also in the unexpanded configuration, the bridges include two adjacent straight segments that are connected by a u-shaped segment, and the straight segments are parallel to one another and to the longitudinal axis of the stent.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A stent comprising:
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an unexpanded configuration, a nominally expanded configuration, and an fully expanded configuration; a plurality of longitudinally adjacent circumferential bands; and a plurality of connectors; in the unexpanded configuration, each circumferential band comprising; a plurality of circumferentially adjacent strut pairs; and a plurality of bridges, each strut pair comprising a first strut and a second strut, the first strut and the second strut being joined to one another by one of the bridges at a joined end, the first strut being angularly offset from the second strut by an acute angle;
each bridge comprising two straight segments connected to one another by a u-shaped segment, the two straight segments being parallel to one another and angularly offset relative to the first and second struts, bridges extending into an opening defined by the first and second struts;longitudinally adjacent circumferential bands being connected one to another by at least one of the connectors, wherein the first and second struts are wider than the straight segments, and the bridges of longitudinally adjacent circumferential bands are circumferentially offset from one another; and wherein a distance between the first strut and the second strut at the joined end is less than a distance between the first strut and the second strut at an unjoined end when the stent is in the nominally expanded configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A stent comprising:
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an unexpanded configuration, a nominally expanded configuration, and a fully expanded configuration; a plurality of circumferential bands and a plurality of connectors connecting adjacent circumferential bands to one another; each circumferential band comprising; a plurality of struts interconnected by bridges, adjacent struts forming strut pairs and being connected to one another at a first end or a second end but not both, each strut pair defining an opening therebetween, the bridges extending into the openings, wherein circumferentially adjacent ends of adjacent struts of a respective strut pair are closer to one another when the stent is in the nominally expanded configuration than when the stent is in the unexpanded configuration; in the unexpanded configuration; the struts being straight along their length, and the bridges comprising two adjacent straight segments connected by a u-shaped segment, the straight segments being parallel to one another and to the longitudinal axis of the stent. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A stent having an unexpanded configuration and a nominally expanded configuration, the stent comprising:
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a plurality of circumferential bands and a plurality of connectors connecting adjacent circumferential bands to one another; each circumferential band comprising; a plurality of struts interconnected by bridges, adjacent struts forming strut pairs and being connected to one another at a first end or a second end but not both, each strut pair defining an opening therebetween, the bridges extending into the openings, wherein circumferentially adjacent ends of adjacent struts of a respective strut pair are closer to one another when the stent is in the nominally expanded configuration than when the stent is in the unexpanded configuration; in the unexpanded configuration; the struts being straight along their length, and the bridges comprising two adjacent straight segments connected by a u-shaped segment, the straight segments being parallel to one another and to the longitudinal axis of the stent.
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Specification