INTRALUMINAL SUPPORT FRAME

• US 20090216311A1
• Filed: 05/09/2009
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Case, Brian C., Flagle, Jacob
• Granted Patent: US 8,123,794 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2475 Venous valves
• 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 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• 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 2002/91575 connected peak to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0066 stapled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped

Abstract

Intraluminal support frames for placement within a body vessel are provided. The support frames include a plurality of ring structures and first and second sets of connector segments. Connector segments of the first set join adjacent pairs of ring structures while connector segments of the second set join at least three ring structures. Medical devices are also provided that include a support frame and an additional component, such as a graft member or valve member

Claims

1. A support frame, comprising:

a plurality of ring structures joined by first and second sets of connector segments and providing proximal and distal ends and first and second axial portions of said support frame, each of the first set of connector segments joining only an adjacent pair of the plurality of ring structures and each of the second set of connector segments joining at least three ring structures of the plurality of ring structures, the first axial portion including connector segments of both the first and second sets of connector segments and the second axial portion including connector segments of only the first set of connector segments;

wherein each of the proximal and distal ends of said support frame comprises only one ring structure of the plurality of ring structures; and

wherein the first axial portion includes the proximal end of said support frame and the second axial portion includes the distal end of said support frame and at least two adjacent ring structures of the plurality of ring structures, one of which is directly joined to the ring structure of the distal end by a connector segment of the first set of connector segments.

2. The support frame of claim 1, wherein each ring structure of the plurality of ring structures defines an undulating pattern having peaks;

and

wherein each connector segment of the second set of connector segments is spaced from at least one connector segment of the first set of connector segments by at least one peak in the undulating pattern of a ring structure.

3. The support frame of claim 1, wherein each connector segment of the second set of connector segments is spaced from at least one connector segment of the first set of connector segments by at least two peaks in the undulating pattern of a ring structure.

4. The support frame of claim 1, wherein the second set of connector segments comprises first and second connector segments diametrically disposed on said support frame.

5. The support frame of claim 1, wherein each connector segment of the second set of connector segments joins less than half of the ring structures of the plurality of ring structures.

6. The support frame of claim 1, wherein each connector segment of the second set of connector segments joins less than one third of the ring structures of the plurality of ring structures.

7. The support frame of claim 1, wherein each connector segment of the second set of connector segments joins all of the ring structures of the plurality of ring structures.

8. The support frame of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ring structures comprises first and second pairs of adjacent ring structures;

wherein the first pair of adjacent ring structures is joined by a first number of connector segments of the first set of connector segments;

wherein the second pair of adjacent ring structures is joined by a second number of connector segments of the first set of connector segments;

wherein the first number is different than the second number.

9. The support frame of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ring structures comprises first and second pairs of adjacent ring structures;

wherein the connector segments of the first set of connector segments joining the first pair of adjacent ring structures is disposed out of phase with the connector segments of the first set of connector segments joining the second pair of adjacent ring structures.

10. The support frame of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ring structures is formed from a wire bent into a zig-zag pattern.

11. The support frame of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ring structures comprises a pattern cut from a solid tube.

12. A support frame, comprising:

a plurality of ring structures joined by first and second sets of connector segments and providing proximal and distal ends and first and second axial portions of said support frame, each of the first set of connector segments joining only an adjacent pair of the plurality of ring structures and each of the second set of connector segments joining at least three ring structures of the plurality of ring structures, the first axial portion including connector segments of both the first and second sets of connector segments and the second axial portion including connector segments of only the first set of connector segments;

wherein each of the proximal and distal ends of said support frame comprises only one ring structure of the plurality of ring structures; and

wherein the first axial portion includes the proximal end of said support frame and the second axial portion includes the distal end of said support frame and at least two adjacent ring structures of the plurality of ring structures, one of which is directly joined to the ring structure of the distal end by a connector segment of the first set of connector segments;

wherein the plurality of ring structures comprises first and second pairs of adjacent ring structures;

wherein the connector segments of the first set of connector segments joining the first pair of adjacent ring structures is disposed out of phase with the connector segments of the first set of connector segments joining the second pair of adjacent ring structures; and

wherein the second set of connector segments comprises first and second connector segments diametrically disposed on said support frame.

13. The support frame of claim 12, wherein each connector segment of the second set of connector segments joins less than half of the ring structures of the plurality of ring structures.

14. The support frame of claim 12, wherein each connector segment of the second set of connector segments joins less than one third of the ring structures of the plurality of ring structures.

15. The support frame of claim 12, wherein each connector segment of the second set of connector segments joins all of the ring structures of the plurality of ring structures.

16. The support frame of claim 12, wherein the plurality of ring structures is formed from a wire bent into a zig-zag pattern.

17. The support frame of claim 12, wherein the plurality of ring structures comprises a pattern cut from a solid tube.

18. A support frame, comprising:

a plurality of ring structures joined by first and second sets of connector segments and providing proximal and distal ends and first and second axial portions of said support frame, each of the first set of connector segments joining only an adjacent pair of the plurality of ring structures and each of the second set of connector segments joining at least three ring structures of the plurality of ring structures, the first axial portion including connector segments of both the first and second sets of connector segments and the second axial portion including connector segments of only the first set of connector segments;

wherein each of the proximal and distal ends of said support frame comprises only one ring structure of the plurality of ring structures; and

wherein the first axial portion includes the proximal end of said support frame and the second axial portion includes the distal end of said support frame and at least two adjacent ring structures of the plurality of ring structures, one of which is directly joined to the ring structure of the distal end by a connector segment of the first set of connector segments;

wherein the plurality of ring structures comprises first and second pairs of adjacent ring structures;

wherein the connector segments of the first set of connector segments joining the first pair of adjacent ring structures is disposed out of phase with the connector segments of the first set of connector segments joining the second pair of adjacent ring structures;

wherein the second set of connector segments comprises first and second connector segments diametrically disposed on said support frame; and

wherein each connector segment of the second set of connector segments joins all of the ring structures of the plurality of ring structures.

19. The support frame of claim 18, wherein the plurality of ring structures is formed from a wire bent into a zig-zag pattern.

20. The support frame of claim 18, wherein the plurality of ring structures comprises a pattern cut from a solid tube.