Intravascular stent

• US 5,922,021 A
• Filed: 04/25/1997
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Jang G. David
• Inventors: Jang, G. David
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tram A.
• Application Number:
  US08/845,657
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1, 623/11, 623/12, 606/108, 606/191, 606/194, 606/195, 606/198
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/89 the wire-like elements comprising two or more adjacent rings flexibly connected by separate members
• 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 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• 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 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0018 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility

Abstract

A stent in a non-expanded state has a first expansion strut pair consisting of a first expansion strut positioned adjacent to a second expansion strut and a joining strut which couples the first and second expansion struts at a distal end of the first expansion strut pair. A plurality of the first expansion strut pair form a first expansion column. A second expansion strut pair consists of a first expansion strut positioned adjacent to a second expansion strut and a joining strut couples the first and second expansion struts at a proximal end of the second expansion strut pair. A plurality of the second expansion strut pair form a second expansion column. A first connecting strut includes a first connecting strut proximal section, a first connecting strut distal section and a first connecting strut intermediate section. The first connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the distal end of the first expansion strut pair in the first expansion column and the first connecting strut distal section is coupled to the proximal end of the second expansion strut pair of the second expansion column. A plurality of the first connecting struts form a first connecting strut column that couples the first expansion column to the second expansion column. A length of the first connecting strut proximal section is equal to a length of the first connecting strut distal section, and a length of the first connecting strut intermediate section is greater than the length of the first connecting strut proximal and distal sections.

Claims

1. A stent in a non-expanded state, comprising:

a first expansion strut pair including a first expansion strut positioned adjacent to a second expansion strut and a joining strut of the first expansion strut pair that couples the first and second expansion struts at a distal end of the first expansion strut pair, a plurality of the first expansion strut pair forming a first expansion column;

a second expansion strut pair including a first expansion strut positioned adjacent to a second expansion strut and a joining strut of the second expansion strut pair that couples the first and second expansion struts of the second expansion strut pair at a proximal end of the second expansion strut pair, a plurality of the second expansion strut pair forming a second expansion column;

a first connecting strut including a first connecting strut proximal section, a first connecting strut distal section and a first connecting strut intermediate section, the first connecting strut proximal section being coupled to the distal end of the first expansion strut pair in the first expansion column and the first connecting strut distal section being coupled to the proximal end of the second expansion strut pair of the second expansion column, a plurality of the first connecting strut forming a first connecting strut column that couples the first expansion column to the second expansion column, the first connecting strut intermediate section being non-parallel to the first connecting strut proximal and distal sections, wherein the first expansion strut of the first expansion strut pair in the first expansion column has a longitudinal axis offset from a longitudinal axis of the first expansion strut of the second expansion strut pair in the second expansion column.

2. The stent of claim 1, wherein a spacing distance between the first expansion strut pair and an adjacent first expansion strut pair in the first expansion column are the same.

3. The stent of claim 1, wherein a spacing distance between the second expansion strut pair and an adjacent second expansion strut pair in the second expansion column are different.

4. The stent of claim 1, wherein a spacing distance between the first expansion strut pair and an adjacent first expansion strut pair in the first expansion column, and a spacing distance between the second expansion strut pair and an adjacent second expansion strut pair in the second expansion column are the same.

5. The stent of claim 1, wherein a spacing distance between the first expansion strut pair and an adjacent first expansion strut pair in the first expansion column, and a spacing distance between the second expansion strut pair and an adjacent second expansion strut pair in the second expansion column are different.

6. The stent of claim 1, wherein a first radius of curvature is formed where the first connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the first connecting strut intermediate section.

7. The stent of claim 1, wherein a second radius of curvature is formed where the first connecting strut distal section is coupled to the first connecting strut intermediate section.

8. The stent of claim 1, wherein a first radius of curvature is formed where the first connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the first connecting strut intermediate section and a second radius of curvature is formed where the first connecting strut distal section is coupled to the first connecting strut intermediate section.

9. The stent of claim 1, wherein a first slant angle is formed where the first connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the first connecting strut intermediate section.

10. The stent of claim 1, wherein a second slant angle is formed where the first connecting strut distal section is coupled to the first connecting strut intermediate section.

11. The stent of claim 1, wherein a first slant angle is formed where the first connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the first connecting strut intermediate section and a second slant angle is formed where the first connecting strut distal section is coupled to the first connecting strut intermediate section.

12. The stent of claim 1, wherein the stent further includes a radiopaque marker.

13. The stent of claim 1, wherein the stent includes an electroplated material for radiopaque observation under fluoroscopy.

14. The stent of claim 1, wherein a proximal end and a distal end of the stent are at least partially radiopaque electroplated.

15. The stent of claim 1, wherein a ratio of a number of expansion struts in an expansion strut column to a number of connecting struts in a connecting strut column is 2 to 1.

16. The stent of claim 1, wherein the stent includes m first and second expansion columns, n expansion struts per column and n (m-1)/2 connecting struts.

17. The stent of claim 1, wherein the first and second expansion columns are each unbroken, continuous structures.

18. The stent of claim 1, further comprising:

a reenforcement expansion column made of a plurality of reenforcement expansion struts, wherein each reenforcement expansion strut has a width that is greater than a width of an expansion strut in the first or second expansion columns.

19. The stent of claim 18, wherein the reenforcement expansion column includes a plurality of relief notches.

20. The stent of claim 1, wherein the stent has a proximal end with a first reenforcement expansion column and a distal end with a second reenforcement expansion column.

21. The stent of claim 20, wherein the first and second reenforcement expansion columns each include a plurality of relief notches.

22. The stent of claim 20, further comprising:

a third reenforcement expansion column intermediate the stent proximal end and the stent distal end.

23. A stent in a non-expanded state, comprising:

a first expansion column formed of a plurality of first expansion column strut pairs, a first expansion strut pair including a first expansion strut adjacent to a second expansion strut and a first joining strut that couples the first and second expansion struts at a proximal end of the first expansion strut pair, a second expansion strut pair including a third expansion strut adjacent to the second expansion strut and a second joining strut that couples the second and third expansion struts at a distal end of the second expansion strut pair, a third expansion strut pair including a fourth expansion strut adjacent to the third expansion strut and a third joining strut that couples the third and fourth expansion struts at a proximal end of the third expansion strut pair, a fourth expansion strut pair including a fifth expansion strut adjacent to the fourth expansion strut and a fourth joining strut that couples the fourth and fifth expansion struts at a distal end of the fourth expansion strut pair, a first expansion strut pair first corner formed where the first joining strut is coupled to the first expansion strut, and a first expansion strut pair second corner formed where the first joining strut is coupled to the second expansion strut, and a second expansion strut pair first corner formed where the second joining strut is coupled to the second expansion strut, and a second expansion strut pair second corner formed where the second joining strut is coupled to the third expansion strut, and a third expansion strut pair first corner formed where the third joining strut is coupled to the third expansion strut, and a third expansion strut pair second corner formed where the third joining strut is coupled to the fourth expansion strut, and a fourth expansion strut pair first corner formed where the fourth joining strut is coupled to the fourth expansion strut, and a fourth expansion strut pair second corner formed where the fourth joining strut is coupled to the fifth expansion strut;

a second expansion column formed of a plurality of second expansion column strut pairs, a first expansion strut pair including a first expansion strut adjacent to a second expansion strut and a first joining strut that couples the first and second expansion struts at a proximal end of the first expansion strut pair, a second expansion strut pair including a third expansion strut adjacent to the second expansion strut and a second joining strut that couples the second and third expansion struts at a distal end of the second expansion strut pair, a third expansion strut pair including a fourth expansion strut adjacent to the third expansion strut and a third joining strut that couples the third and fourth expansion struts at a proximal end of the third expansion strut pair, a fourth expansion strut pair including a fifth expansion strut adjacent to the fourth expansion strut and a fourth joining strut that couples the fourth and fifth expansion struts at a distal end of the fourth expansion strut pair, a first expansion strut pair first corner formed where the first joining strut is coupled to the first expansion strut, and a first expansion strut pair second corner formed where the first joining strut is coupled to the second expansion strut, and a second expansion strut pair first corner formed where the second joining strut is coupled to the second expansion strut, and a second expansion strut pair second corner formed where the second joining strut is coupled to the third expansion strut, and a third expansion strut pair first corner formed where the third joining strut is coupled to the third expansion strut, and a third expansion strut pair second corner formed where the third joining strut is coupled to the fourth expansion strut, and a fourth expansion strut pair first corner formed where the fourth joining strut is coupled to the fourth expansion strut, and a fourth expansion strut pair second corner formed where the fourth joining strut is coupled to the fifth expansion strut; and

a first connecting strut column formed of a plurality of first connecting struts, each connecting strut of the first connecting strut column including a connecting strut proximal section, a connecting strut distal section and a connecting strut intermediate section, a first connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the joining strut of the second expansion strut pair of the first expansion strut column, and a first connecting strut distal section is coupled to the joining strut of the first expansion strut pair of the second expansion strut column, and a second connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the joining strut of the fourth expansion strut pair of the first expansion strut column, and a second connecting strut distal section is coupled to the joining strut of the third expansion strut pair of the second expansion strut column, the first connecting strut intermediate section being non-parallel to the first connecting strut proximal and distal sections wherein the first expansion strut of the first expansion strut pair in the first expansion column has a longitudinal axis offset from a longitudinal axis of the first expansion strut of the second expansion strut pair in the second expansion column.

24. The stent of claim 23, wherein the stent includes a proximal expansion column, a distal expansion column, a plurality of connecting struts positioned between the proximal and distal expansion columns, and a plurality of expansion columns positioned between the proximal and distal expansion columns, each expansion column being made of a plurality of juxtapositioned proximal and distal looped slots.

25. The stent of claim 23, wherein the first expansion column, the second expansion column, and the first connecting strut column form a plurality of geometric cells.

26. The stent of claim 25, wherein at least a portion of the plurality are asymmetrical geometric cells.

27. The stent of claim 23, wherein the first expansion column, the second expansion column, and the first connecting strut column form a plurality of cells and at least a portion of the plurality of cells form non-uniform cell space patterns.

28. The stent of claim 23, wherein the first expansion strut column, the second expansion strut column and the first connecting strut column form a plurality of geometric configurations and at least a portion of the plurality form asymmetrical geometric configurations.

29. The stent of claim 23, wherein the first expansion strut column, the second expansion strut column and the first connecting strut column form a plurality of geometric configurations and at least a portion of the plurality form symmetrical geometric configurations.

30. The stent of claim 23, wherein the first connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the joining strut of the second expansion strut pair of the first expansion strut column, and the first connecting strut distal section is coupled to the first corner of the first expansion strut pair of the second expansion strut column, and the second connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the joining strut of the fourth expansion strut pair of the first expansion strut column, and the second connecting strut distal section is coupled to the first corner of the third expansion strut pair of the second expansion strut column.

31. The stent of claim 23, wherein the first connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the joining strut of the second expansion strut pair of the first expansion strut column, and the first connecting strut distal section is coupled to the second corner of the first expansion strut pair of the second expansion strut column, and the second connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the joining strut of the fourth expansion strut pair of the first expansion strut column, and the second connecting strut distal section is coupled to the second corner of the third expansion strut pair of the second expansion strut column.

32. The stent of claim 23, wherein the first connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the first corner of the second expansion strut pair of the first expansion strut column, and the first connecting strut distal section is coupled to the joining strut of the first expansion strut pair of the second expansion strut column, and the second connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the first corner of the fourth expansion strut pair of the first expansion strut column, and the second connecting strut distal section is coupled to the joining strut of the third expansion strut pair of the second expansion strut column.

33. The stent of claim 23, wherein the first connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the second corner of the second expansion strut pair of the first expansion strut column, and the first connecting strut distal section is coupled to the joining strut of the first expansion strut pair of the second expansion strut column, and the second connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the second corner of the fourth expansion strut pair of the first expansion strut column, and the second connecting strut distal section is coupled to the joining strut of the third expansion strut pair of the second expansion strut column.

34. The stent of claim 23, wherein the first connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the first corner of the second expansion strut pair of the first expansion strut column, and the first connecting strut distal section is coupled to the first corner of the first expansion strut pair of the second expansion strut column, and the second connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the first corner of the fourth expansion strut pair of the first expansion strut column, and the second connecting strut distal section is coupled to the first corner of the third expansion strut pair of the second expansion strut column.

35. The stent of claim 23, wherein the first connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the first corner of the second expansion strut pair of the first expansion strut column, and the first connecting strut distal section is coupled to the second corner of the first expansion strut pair of the second expansion strut column, and the second connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the first corner of the fourth expansion strut pair of the first expansion strut column, and the second connecting strut distal section is coupled to the second corner of the third expansion strut pair of the second expansion strut column.

36. The stent of claim 24, wherein the first connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the second corner of the second expansion strut pair of the first expansion strut column, and the first connecting strut distal section is coupled to the first corner of the first expansion strut pair of the second expansion strut column, and the second connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the second corner of the fourth expansion strut pair of the first expansion strut column, and the second connecting strut distal section is coupled to the first corner of the third expansion strut pair of the second expansion strut column.

37. The stent of claim 23, wherein the first connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the second corner of the second expansion strut pair of the first expansion strut column, and the first connecting strut distal section is coupled to the second corner of the first expansion strut pair of the second expansion strut column, and the second connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the second corner of the fourth expansion strut pair of the first expansion strut column, and the second connecting strut distal section is coupled to the second corner of the third expansion strut pair of the second expansion strut column.

38. The stent of claim 23, wherein the first column expansion strut pairs define first column loop slots, and the second column expansion strut pairs define second column loop slots.

39. The stent of claim 38, wherein the first column loop slots are parallel to the second column loop slots.

40. The stent of claim 38, wherein the first column loop slots are not parallel to the second column loop slots.

41. The stent of claim 38, wherein the first column loop slots are longitudinally offset from the second column loop slots.

42. The stent of claim 38, wherein the first column loop slots are non-collinear to the second column loop slots.

43. The stent of claim 38, wherein the first column loop slots are collinear with the second column loop slots.

44. The stent of claim 38, wherein a width of first column loop slots is the same as a width of second column loop slots.

45. The stent of claim 38, wherein a width of the first column loop slots is different than a width of the second column loop slots.

46. The stent of claim 38, wherein a shape of the first column loop slots is different than a shape of the second column loop slots.

47. The stent of claim 38, wherein a shape of the first column loop slots is the same as a shape of the second column loop slots.

48. The stent of claim 38, wherein a shape of a first column loop slot of the first expansion column is different from a shape of an adjacent first column loop slot of the first expansion column.

49. The stent of claim 38, wherein a shape of a first column loop slot of the first expansion column is the same as a shape of an adjacent first column loop slot of the first expansion column.

50. The stent of claim 38, wherein a width of a first column loop slot of the first expansion column is different from a width of an adjacent first column loop slot of the first expansion column.

51. The stent of claim 38, wherein a width of a first column loop slot of the first expansion column is the same as a width of an adjacent first column loop slot of the first expansion column.

52. The stent of claim 23, wherein each connecting strut proximal section has a substantially linear geometry.

53. The stent of claim 52, wherein each connecting strut distal section has a substantially linear geometry.

54. The stent of claim 53, wherein each connecting strut intermediate section has a substantially linear geometry.

55. The stent of claim 23, wherein a ratio of a number of expansion struts in an expansion strut column to a number of connecting struts in a connecting strut column is 2 to 1.

56. The stent of claim 23, wherein the stent includes m first and second expansion columns, n connecting struts per column and n (m-1)/2 connecting struts.

57. The stent of claim 23, wherein the first and second expansion columns are each unbroken, continuous column structures.

58. The stent of claim 23, wherein one of the first or second expansion column is a broken column structure.

59. The stent of claim 23, further comprising:

a plurality of first expansion columns;

a plurality of second expansion columns; and

a plurality of first connecting strut columns, each first connecting strut column coupling a first expansion column to a second expansion column.

60. The stent of claim 59, wherein a plurality of first expansion columns, second expansion columns and first connecting strut columns form a continuous a chain mesh strut frame pattern.

61. The stent of claim 59, wherein the plurality of first expansion columns, the plurality of second expansion columns and the plurality of first connecting strut columns form an elongated structure.

62. The stent of claim 23, further comprising:

a reenforcement expansion column made of a plurality of reenforcement expansion struts, wherein each reenforcement expansion strut has a width that is greater than a width of an expansion strut in the first or second expansion columns.

63. The stent of claim 23, wherein the stent has a proximal end with a first reenforcement expansion column and a distal end with a second reenforcement expansion column.

64. The stent of claim 23, wherein the stent has a reenforcement expansion column between a proximal end and a distal end of the stent.

65. The stent of claim 23, further comprising:

a third expansion column formed of a plurality of third expansion column strut pairs, a first expansion strut pair including a first expansion strut adjacent to a second expansion strut and a first joining strut that couples the first and second expansion struts at a proximal end of the first expansion strut pair, a second expansion strut pair including a third expansion strut adjacent to the second expansion strut and a second joining strut that couples the second and third expansion struts at a distal end of the second expansion strut pair, a third expansion strut pair including a fourth expansion strut adjacent to the third expansion strut and a third joining strut that couples the third and fourth expansion struts at a proximal end of the third expansion strut pair, a fourth expansion strut pair including a fifth expansion strut adjacent to the fourth expansion strut and a fourth joining strut that couples the fourth and fifth expansion struts at a distal end of the fourth expansion strut pair, a first expansion strut pair first corner formed where the first joining strut is coupled to the first expansion strut, and a first expansion strut pair second corner formed where the first joining strut is coupled to the second expansion strut, and a second expansion strut pair first corner formed where the second joining strut is coupled to the second expansion strut, and a second expansion strut pair second corner formed where the second joining strut is coupled to the third expansion strut, and a third expansion strut pair first corner formed where the third joining strut is coupled to the third expansion strut, and a third expansion strut pair second corner formed where the third joining strut is coupled to the fourth expansion strut, and a fourth expansion strut pair first corner formed where the fourth joining strut is coupled to the fourth expansion strut, and a fourth expansion strut pair second corner formed where the fourth joining strut is coupled to the fifth expansion strut; and

a second connecting strut column formed of a plurality of second connecting struts, each connecting strut of the second connecting strut column including a connecting strut proximal section, a connecting strut distal section and a connecting strut intermediate section, a first connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the joining strut of the second expansion strut pair of the second expansion strut column, and a first connecting strut distal section is coupled to the joining strut of the first expansion strut pair of the third expansion strut column, and a second connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the joining strut of the fourth expansion strut pair of the second expansion strut column, and a second connecting strut distal section is coupled to the joining strut of the third expansion strut pair of the third expansion strut column.

66. The stent of claim 65, wherein the first expansion strut of the first expansion strut pair in the second expansion column has a longitudinal axis offset from a longitudinal axis of the first expansion strut of the second expansion strut pair in the third expansion column.

67. The stent of claim 65, wherein the first expansion column, the second expansion column, and the first connecting strut column form a first plurality of geometric cells, and the second expansion column, the third expansion column and the second connecting strut column form a second plurality of geometric cells.

69. The stent of claim 67, wherein at least a portion of the first plurality of geometric cells and at least a portion of the second plurality of geometric cells are symmetric cells.

70. The stent of claim 67, wherein each geometric cell of the first plurality includes a proximal looped slot and a distal looped slot, and each geometric cell of the second plurality includes a proximal looped slot and a distal looped slot.

71. The stent of claim 70, wherein each distal looped slot of a cell of the first plurality is juxtapositioned to a corresponding proximal looped slot of a cell of the second plurality.

72. The stent of claim 65, wherein the stent includes a proximal expansion column, a distal expansion column, a plurality of connecting struts positioned between the proximal and distal expansion columns, and a plurality of expansion columns positioned between the proximal and distal expansion columns, each expansion column being made of a plurality of juxtapositioned proximal and distal looped slots.

73. The stent of claim 23, wherein a width of the first connecting strut is equal to or less than a width of the first expansion strut of the first or second expansion columns.

74. The stent of claim 23, wherein a width of a connecting strut of the first connecting strut column is larger than a width of a first expansion strut of the first or second expansion columns.

75. The stent of claim 23, wherein a width of the second expansion strut of the first or second expansion columns is substantially the same as the width of the first expansion strut of the first or second expansion columns.

76. The stent of claim 23, wherein the stent has a tapered diameter in an expanded state.

77. The stent of claim 23, wherein the stent has a tapered geometry extending from a proximal end to a distal end in an expanded state.

78. The stent of claim 23, wherein the stent is configured to be positioned at an exterior of an expandable balloon.

79. The stent assembly of claim 78, wherein the balloon is curved extending from a proximal end and a distal end in an expanded state.

80. The stent assembly of claim 79, wherein the balloon is tapered in an expanded state and the stent has a non-tapered geometry in an expanded state.

81. The stent assembly of claim 79, wherein the balloon and the stent are both tapered in an expanded state.

82. The stent assembly of claim 79, wherein the stent is non-tapered in an expanded state.

83. The stent assembly of claim 79, wherein the stent is tapered in an expanded state.

84. The stent of claim 79, wherein the stent in an expanded state is non-tapered, and the balloon is tapered and curved in an expanded state.

85. The stent of claim 79, wherein the stent is tapered in an expanded state, and the balloon is tapered and curved in an expanded state.

68. The stent of claim 68, wherein at least a portion of the first plurality of geometric cells and at least a portion of the second plurality of geometric cells form asymmetric cells.