Stent having a multiplicity of undulating longitudinals

• US 8,747,452 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David R. Fischell, Robert E. Fischell, Tim A. Fischell
• Original Assignee: David R. Fischell, Robert E. Fischell, Tim A. Fischell
• Inventors: Fischell, Robert E., Fischell, David R., Fischell, Tim A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sweet, Thomas J
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRESTON, REBECCA STRASZHEIM
• Application Number:
  US12/286,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20090105807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,079 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/844 folded prior to deployment
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 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 2002/825 having longitudinal struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9155 Adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0019 operated at only one temperature whilst inside or touching the human body, e.g. constrained in a non-operative shape during surgery, another temperature only occurring before the operation

Abstract

A method for implanting a balloon expandable stent at a site within a passageway of a curved coronary article. The stent includes at least two longitudinally spaced apart circumferential rings. At least one longitudinally extending connector extends between adjacent rings. The connector has at least one turn back portion that can expand or contract in length while being passed through a curved passageway. The stent is disposed on a stent delivery catheter having an inflatable balloon. The stent delivery catheter and the stent is delivered through the passageway to the site of implementation with the connector member expanding or contracting in length to facilitate delivery and placement of the stent. The stent is expanded at the site of implantation by inflating the balloon to force the stent radially outward against the wall of the coronary artery.

Claims

1. A generally cylindrical, balloon-expandable stent for delivery to a desired location in a coronary artery on a stent delivery catheter, said stent having a first, pre-deployment linear configuration and diameter and a second, deployed diameter that is configured to expand the coronary artery at the desired location, said stent being a unitary structure cut from a pre-existing, thin-walled metal tube and having a circumference and a longitudinal axis, said stent having sufficient flexibility to permit percutaneous delivery to the coronary artery which is curved;

said stent in its first pre-deployment diameter, comprising;

a plurality of ring elements that define a plurality of spaced apart, generally cylindrical, longitudinally aligned segments of the stent that provide radial support to the stent; and

a plurality of non-linear connecting elements interconnecting the generally cylindrical segments to one another, each of the connecting elements having first and second end portions that are fixedly connected and respectively interconnect longitudinally adjacent ones of said generally cylindrical segments, at least a central portion of each connecting element intermediate the ends thereof being circumferentially and longitudinally arcuate, in said first pre-deployment linear configuration, so that said portion can flex so that the connecting elements can expand or contract in length, as measured by the straight line distance between the respective end portions thereof, as the stent is being passed through the curved coronary artery, an outside surface of said stent corresponding to an outside surface of said thin-walled metal tube, said stent being monolithic, wherein said plurality of generally cylindrical segments and said plurality of connecting elements are of uniform thickness, wherein each of said central portions includes an undulating portion, wherein said undulating portion is generally in the form of a sine wave.

2. The stent as recited in claim 1, wherein a line drawn from the first end portion of at least one of said connecting elements to the second end portion of said at least one of said connecting elements is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stent.

3. A generally cylindrical, balloon-expandable stent for delivery to a desired location in a coronary artery on a stent delivery catheter, said stent having a first, pre-deployment linear configuration and diameter and a second, deployed diameter that is configured to expand the coronary artery at the desired location, said stent being a unitary structure cut from a pre-existing, thin-walled metal tube and having a circumference and a longitudinal axis, said stent having sufficient flexibility to permit percutaneous delivery to the coronary artery which is curved;

said stent in its first pre-deployment diameter, comprising;

a plurality of ring elements that define a plurality of spaced apart, generally cylindrical, longitudinally aligned segments of the stent that provide radial support to the stent; and

a plurality of non-linear connecting elements interconnecting the generally cylindrical segments to one another, each of the connecting elements having first and second end portions that are fixedly connected and respectively interconnect longitudinally adjacent ones of said generally cylindrical segments, at least a central portion of each connecting element intermediate the ends thereof being circumferentially and longitudinally arcuate, in said first pre-deployment linear configuration, so that said portion can flex so that the connecting elements can expand or contract in length, as measured by the straight line distance between the respective end portions thereof, as the stent is being passed through the curved coronary artery, an outside surface of said stent corresponding to an outside surface of said thin-walled metal tube, said stent being monolithic, wherein said plurality of generally cylindrical segments and said plurality of connecting elements are of uniform thickness, wherein at least one of said first and second end portions of said connecting elements includes a straight portion that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stent.

4. A generally cylindrical, balloon-expandable stent for delivery to a desired location in a coronary artery on a stent delivery catheter, said stent having a first, pre-deployment linear configuration and diameter and a second, deployed diameter that is configured to expand the coronary artery at the desired location, said stent being a unitary structure cut from a pre-existing, thin-walled metal tube and having a circumference and a longitudinal axis, said stent having sufficient flexibility to permit percutaneous delivery to the coronary artery which is curved;

said stent in its first pre-deployment diameter, comprising;

a plurality of ring elements that define a plurality of spaced apart, generally cylindrical, longitudinally aligned segments of the stent that provide radial support to the stent; and

a plurality of non-linear connecting elements interconnecting the generally cylindrical segments to one another, each of the connecting elements having first and second end portions that are fixedly connected and respectively interconnect longitudinally adjacent ones of said generally cylindrical segments, at least a central portion of each connecting element intermediate the ends thereof being circumferentially and longitudinally arcuate, in said first pre-deployment linear configuration, so that said portion can flex so that the connecting elements can expand or contract in length, as measured by the straight line distance between the respective end portions thereof, as the stent is being passed through the curved coronary artery, an outside surface of said stent corresponding to an outside surface of said thin-walled metal tube, said stent being monolithic, wherein said plurality of generally cylindrical segments and said plurality of connecting elements are of uniform thickness, wherein each of said central portions includes at least two generally U-shaped arcuate portions that open in opposite directions.

5. A generally cylindrical, balloon expandable stent for delivery to a desired location in a coronary artery on a stent delivery catheter, said stent having a first, pre-deployment linear configuration and diameter and a second, deployed diameter that is configured to expand the coronary artery at the desired location, said stent being a unitary structure cut from a pre-existing thin-walled metal tube and having a circumference and a longitudinal axis, said stent having sufficient flexibility to permit percutaneous delivery to the coronary artery which is curved;

said stent in its first pre-deployment diameter, comprising;

a plurality of longitudinally-aligned first ring elements that partially define the circumference of the stent and that provide radial support to the stent; and

a plurality of generally longitudinally extending, non-linear connecting elements that further define the circumference of the stent, said connector elements have first and second end portions that are fixedly connected and extend between two of said first ring elements that are longitudinally displaced with respect to one another, said connecting elements having a circumferentially and longitudinally arcuate central portion between their first and second end portions, in said first pre-deployment linear configuration, so that the connecting elements can expand or contract in length by flexure of said arcuate central portion, as measured by a straight line distance between the first and second end portions thereof, as the stent is being passed through the curved coronary artery, an outside surface of said stent corresponding to an outside surface of said thin-walled metal tube, said stent being monolithic, wherein said plurality of first ring elements and said plurality of connecting elements are of uniform thickness, wherein each of said arcuate central portions includes an undulating portion, wherein said undulating portion is generally in the form of a sine wave.

6. The stent as recited in claim 5, wherein said connecting elements each respectively interconnect longitudinally adjacent ones of said first ring elements.

7. The stent as recited in claim 5, wherein a line drawn from the first end portion of at least one of said connecting elements to the second end portion of said at least one of said connecting elements is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stent.

8. A generally cylindrical, balloon expandable stent for delivery to a desired location in a coronary artery on a stent delivery catheter, said stent having a first, pre-deployment linear configuration and diameter and a second, deployed diameter that is configured to expand the coronary artery at the desired location, said stent being a unitary structure cut from a pre-existing thin-walled metal tube and having a circumference and a longitudinal axis, said stent having sufficient flexibility to permit percutaneous delivery to the coronary artery which is curved;

said stent in its first pre-deployment diameter, comprising;

a plurality of longitudinally-aligned first ring elements that partially define the circumference of the stent and that provide radial support to the stent; and

a plurality of generally longitudinally extending, non-linear connecting elements that further define the circumference of the stent, said connector elements have first and second end portions that are fixedly connected and extend between two of said first ring elements that are longitudinally displaced with respect to one another, said connecting elements having a circumferentially and longitudinally arcuate central portion between their first and second end portions, in said first pre-deployment linear configuration, so that the connecting elements can expand or contract in length by flexure of said arcuate central portion, as measured by a straight line distance between the first and second end portions thereof, as the stent is being passed through the curved coronary artery, an outside surface of said stent corresponding to an outside surface of said thin-walled metal tube, said stent being monolithic, wherein said plurality of first ring elements and said plurality of connecting elements are of uniform thickness, wherein at least one of said first and second end portions of said connecting elements includes a straight portion that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stent.

9. A generally cylindrical, balloon expandable stent for delivery to a desired location in a coronary artery on a stent delivery catheter, said stent having a first, pre-deployment linear configuration and diameter and a second, deployed diameter that is configured to expand the coronary artery at the desired location, said stent being a unitary structure cut from a pre-existing thin-walled metal tube and having a circumference and a longitudinal axis, said stent having sufficient flexibility to permit percutaneous delivery to the coronary artery which is curved;

said stent in its first pre-deployment diameter, comprising;

a plurality of longitudinally-aligned first ring elements that partially define the circumference of the stent and that provide radial support to the stent; and

a plurality of generally longitudinally extending, non-linear connecting elements that further define the circumference of the stent, said connector elements have first and second end portions that are fixedly connected and extend between two of said first ring elements that are longitudinally displaced with respect to one another, said connecting elements having a circumferentially and longitudinally arcuate central portion between their first and second end portions, in said first pre-deployment linear configuration, so that the connecting elements can expand or contract in length by flexure of said arcuate central portion, as measured by a straight line distance between the first and second end portions thereof, as the stent is being passed through the curved coronary artery, an outside surface of said stent corresponding to an outside surface of said thin-walled metal tube, said stent being monolithic, wherein said plurality of first ring elements and said plurality of connecting elements are of uniform thickness, wherein each of said arcuate central portions includes at least two generally U-shaped arcuate portions that open in opposite directions.