Non-foreshortening intraluminal prosthesis

• US 20070213808A1
• Filed: 03/21/2007
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endosystems LLC
• Original Assignee: Endosystems LLC
• Inventors: Vidal, Claude, Redmond, Russell, White, Geoffrey, Iyer, Sriram, Roubin, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 8,882,823 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• 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 2002/91525 within the whole structure different bands showing different meander characteristics, e.g. frequency or amplitude
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91541 Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0029 differing in bending or flexure capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter

Abstract

An intraluminal prosthesis is provided with a plurality of annular elements. Each annular element includes a plurality of struts and apices connected to form an annular configuration. Each annular element has a compressed state and an expanded state, and has a longitudinal dimension which is smaller in the expanded state than in the compressed state. A plurality of connecting members connect the apices of adjacent annular elements. The connecting members have a plurality of alternating segments that function to compensate for the smaller longitudinal dimension of each annular element in the expanded state. The stent may be provided with varying flexibility along its length and/or circumference, and may include segments that have different diameters.

Claims

1-32. -32. (canceled)

33. A stent comprising:

a first annular element, a second annular element disposed axially adjacent to the first annular element, and a third annular element disposed axially adjacent to the second annular element,

each annular element includes a plurality of alternating struts and apices,

at least one connector joining each annular element to an adjacent annular element, and

wherein at least one connector includes a first connector having a length greater than a second connector.

34. The stent of claim 33, wherein the at least one connector has a first end and a second end wherein at least one of the first or second ends is connected to an apex.

35. The stent of claim 34, wherein the first end is connected to an apex of the first annular element and the second end is connected to an apex of the second annular element.

36. The stent of claim 33, wherein the first annular element is disposed at an end of the stent.

37. The stent of claim 33, wherein the at least one connector has at least one straight segment.

38. The stent of claim 33, wherein at least a portion of the stent has a varying flexibility.

39. The stent of claim 33, wherein a first portion of the stent has a diameter greater than a second portion of the stent.

40. The stent of claim 39, wherein a portion of the stent has a tapered configuration along the length of the stent.

41. The stent of claim 33, wherein at least a portion thereof has a varying rigidity.

42. The stent of claim 33, wherein the struts of at least one annular element have a varying width or thickness.

43. The stent of claim 33, wherein the stent includes at least one aperture disposed along the length of the stent.

44. The stent of claim 43, wherein a plurality of apertures of a varied size or shape are disposed along the length of the stent.

45. The stent of claim 43, wherein the at least one aperture is disposed in a central portion of the stent.

46. The stent of claim 36, wherein the connecting member can be made of the same material as the annular elements.

47. The stent of claim 46, wherein the stent is made of a metal, metal-alloy, or polymer.

48. The stent of claim 46, wherein the stent is made of shape-memory material.

49. The stent of claim 33, wherein a coating material is applied to the stent.

50. The stent of claim 33, wherein the stent includes a radiopaque material.

51. The stent of claim 50, wherein the radiopaque material can include tantalum or gold.

52. The stent of claim 33, wherein the stent is balloon expandable, or self-expandable.