Helical stent
First Claim
1. A radially expandable stent comprising:
- a plurality of strut members;
a plurality of side by side helical elements extending helically about an axis of said strut members and interposed between said strut members, said strut members comprising a plurality of strut elements; and
a helix angle, said helix angle being an acute angle formed between a plane perpendicular to an axis of said stent and said helical element;
said helical elements comprise a plurality of side by side elongated elements along a length of said helical elements, each of said helical elements being connected to each of said strut elements with side by side elongated flexible curved linking elements providing a radially expandable tubular structure, said side by side elongated linking elements are thinner in width than said helical elements;
wherein when said stent is radially expanded from a crimped state, a diameter of said stent increases and the helix angle of each of the helical elements in an expanded state decreases from the helix angle in a crimped state.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a stent providing a high percentage of vessel coverage, preferably at least about 50% of the portion of the vessel covered by the helical elements of the stent. The stent comprises helical elements interposed between strut members in which the helical elements are connected to the strut members by linking elements. The portion of the stent having helical elements provides a high percentage of covered area for example, in an aneurysm area. The linking elements provide part of a mechanism that allows vessel coverage to be maintained as the stent is deployed from a crimped state to an expanded state allowing the helical elements to change its helix angle (the angle at which the helical elements progresses around the circumference and along the length of the stent) and thereby the pitch of the helical elements as the stent is expanded.
90 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A radially expandable stent comprising:
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a plurality of strut members; a plurality of side by side helical elements extending helically about an axis of said strut members and interposed between said strut members, said strut members comprising a plurality of strut elements; and a helix angle, said helix angle being an acute angle formed between a plane perpendicular to an axis of said stent and said helical element; said helical elements comprise a plurality of side by side elongated elements along a length of said helical elements, each of said helical elements being connected to each of said strut elements with side by side elongated flexible curved linking elements providing a radially expandable tubular structure, said side by side elongated linking elements are thinner in width than said helical elements; wherein when said stent is radially expanded from a crimped state, a diameter of said stent increases and the helix angle of each of the helical elements in an expanded state decreases from the helix angle in a crimped state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for placing a stent within a mammal in a body lumen comprising placing one or more stents in said body lumen, said stent comprising:
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a plurality of strut members; and a plurality of side by side helical elements extending helically about an axis of said strut members and interposed between said strut members, said strut members comprising a plurality of strut elements; a helix angle, said helix angle being an acute angle formed between a plane perpendicular to an axis of said stent and said helical element; said helical elements comprise a plurality of side by side elongated elements along a length of said helical element, each of said helical elements being connected to each of said strut elements with side by side elongated flexible curved linking elements providing a radially expandable tubular structure, said side by side elongated linking elements are thinner in width than said helical elements; wherein when said stent is radially expanded from a crimped state, a diameter of said stent increases and the helix angle of each of the helical elements in an expanded state decreases from the helix angle in a crimped state. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for treating a diseased vessel or duct in a mammal comprising the steps of:
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placing one or more stents at a target site, said stent comprising; a plurality of strut members; and a plurality of side by side helical elements extending helically about an axis of said strut members and interposed between said strut members, said strut members comprising a plurality of strut elements; a helix angle, said helix angle being an acute angle formed between a plane perpendicular to an axis of said stent and said helical element; said helical elements comprise a plurality of side by side elongated elements along a length of said helical element, each of said helical elements being connected to each of said strut elements with side by side elongated flexible curved linking elements providing a radially expandable tubular structure, said side by side elongated linking elements are thinner in width than said helical elements; wherein when said stent is radially expanded from a crimped state, a diameter of said stent increases and the helix angle of each of the helical elements in an expanded state decreases from the helix angle in a crimped state. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification