Collapsible stent

• US 8,876,887 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2008
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: University Hospitals of Leicester N H S Trust
• Original Assignee: University Hospitals of Leicester N H S Trust
• Inventors: Gershlick, Anthony Harvey
• Primary Examiner(s): HOLWERDA, KATHLEEN SONNETT
• Application Number:
  US12/602,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20100211163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,343 Days
• Field of Search: 606/108, 606/191, 606/194, 606/200, 623 111- 154
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• 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 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• 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 2002/821 Ostial stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0018 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0029 differing in bending or flexure capacity

Abstract

A stent suitable for the repair of lesions in bifurcated blood vessels is provided, having a deformable end portion such that a free end of the end portion can be aligned with the surface of an abutting stent or angioplasty balloon in a main branch of the bifurcated vessel. A method of blood vessel repair using this stent is also provided.

Claims

1. A stent comprising:

an end portion which, in an expanded state, defines a vessel-supporting wall having a free end defining a circumference at the free end;

wherein the end portion is configured to deform to longitudinally collapse the vessel-supporting wall at a first point on the circumference by a larger amount than at a second point, the end portion including an expandable ring secured by a collapsible web, wherein the ring is configured to expand due to collapsing of the web when the end portion is deformed by application of a force longitudinally collapsing the vessel-supporting wall at the first point by a larger amount than at the second point.

2. The stent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the free end defines a free end plane and wherein the end portion is deformable to dispose the end plane in a tilted relationship with respect to the vessel-supporting wall.

3. The stent as claimed in claim 2, wherein the free end is configured to be arranged to yield to an uneven pressure to result in the tilted relationship.

4. The stent as claimed in claim 2, wherein the free end is configured to yield in response to being pressed by a surface which is tilted with respect to the vessel-supporting wall to an attitude in which the end plane is generally aligned with the surface.

5. The stent as claimed in claim 2, wherein in response to the end plane being tilted, a projection of the free end on to a cross-section of the vessel-supporting wall substantially coincides with the cross section of the vessel-supporting wall.

6. The stent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end portion defines a concertina-like arrangement.

7. The stent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ring is configured to be folded up within the vessel-supporting wall.

8. The stent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the web is configured to fold onto itself when collapsing.

9. The stent as claimed in claim 8, wherein the web is configured to fold onto itself within the vessel-supporting wall.

10. The stent as claimed in claim 8, wherein the web is configured to fold onto itself to protrude from the vessel-supporting wall out of the end portion.

11. The stent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end portion includes a plurality of expandable rings secured to each other by collapsible webs.

12. The stent as claimed in claim 1, further including a main portion configured to support a vessel, the end portion being secured to the main portion.

13. The stent as claimed in claim 12, wherein the main portion and the end portion are manufactured from a single tubular member by machining away material to define the main and end portions.

14. The stent as claimed in claim 12, wherein the main portion and the end portion are separately manufactured and joined.

15. The stent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end portion is constrained by a sheath in its unexpanded state and is expandable by withdrawing the sheath.

16. The stent as claimed in claim 15, wherein the end portion comprises a shape memory alloy.

17. The stent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the collapsible web is jointed to enable folding of the web onto itself.

18. A method of utilizing a stent to repair bifurcated blood vessels, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a stent having an end portion which, in an expanded state, defines a vessel-supporting wall having a free end defining a circumference at the free end, the end portion including an expandable ring secured by a collapsible web;

longitudinally collapsing the vessel-supporting wall at a first point on the circumference by a larger amount than at a second point by deforming the end portion;

expanding the ring and collapsing the web upon deforming the end portion and collapsing the vessel-supporting wall, wherein the expansion of the ring is caused by the collapsing of the web.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the free end defines a free end plane and wherein the end portion is deformed to dispose the end plane in a tilted relationship with the vessel-supporting wall.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the free end yields to an uneven pressure to result in the tilted relationship.