Expandable stents and method for making same

• US 6,432,133 B1
• Filed: 11/16/2000
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Lau, Lilip, Frantzen, John J., Hartigan, William M.
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott, Corrine
• Assistant Examiner(s): GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J
• Application Number:
  US09/716,847
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.15, 623/1.16, 606/195
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/848 having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs
• 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 2/89 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 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9155 Adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91575 connected peak to trough
• 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: A61M 2025/1081 having sheaths or the like for covering the balloon but not forming a permanent part of the balloon, e.g. retractable, dissolvable or tearable sheaths
• CPC Class Codes: C23F 1/02 Local etching
• CPC Class Codes: C23F 1/04 Chemical milling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/901 Method of manufacturing prosthetic device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/903 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/921 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49995 Shaping one-piece blank by removing material

Abstract

The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as an artery, and a method for making it from a single length of tubing. The stent consists of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common axis and interconnected by one or more interconnective elements. The individual radially expandable cylindrical elements consist of ribbon-like material disposed in an undulating pattern. Portions of the expanded stent project outwardly into engagement with the vessel wall to more securely attach the stent.

Claims

1. A longitudinally flexible stent, comprising:

a plurality of interconnected cylindrical elements aligned along a stent longitudinal axis, each cylindrical element having a shape configured to enable the cylindrical element to expand with the inflation of an expandable member disposed therein;

wherein each of the cylindrical elements has a diameter and a length, the length of each cylindrical element being less than the diameter of the cylindrical element upon inflation of the expandable member; and

the cylindrical elements having a length less than 2.5 mm.

2. The stent of claim 1, wherein upon expansion there is no appreciable shortening of the stent.

3. The stent of claim 1, wherein the shape includes U-shaped members.

4. The stent of claim 1, wherein the stent is formed from a single piece of tubing.

5. The stent of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical elements are interconnected by connecting elements.

6. The stent of claim 5, wherein at least two connecting elements connect adjacent cylindrical elements.

7. The stent of claim 5, wherein at least one connecting element between a first cylindrical element and a second cylindrical element is circumferentially offset from at least one connecting element between the second cylindrical element and a third cylindrical element.

8. The stent of claim 1, wherein each cylindrical element is formed individually.

9. The stent of claim 8, wherein the individual cylindrical elements are interconnected by at least one weld connection.

10. The stent of claim 1, wherein the shapes of adjacent cylindrical elements are in phase.

11. The stent of claim 1, wherein the shapes of adjacent cylindrical elements are out of phase.

12. A balloon expandable longitudinally flexible stent, comprising:

a stent pattern having a plurality of single undulating portions extending circumferentially about a longitudinal axis;

each single undulating portion being formed individually and thereafter being connected together along the longitudinal axis;

at least one of the single undulating portions having a length and a diameter, the length being less than the diameter upon inflation of the balloon;

the single undulating portions having a length less than 2.5 mm; and

wherein there is no appreciable shortening of the stent upon inflation of the balloon.

13. The stent of claim 12, wherein at least two adjacent single undulating portions are interconnected by connecting elements.

14. The stent of claim 12, wherein at least two adjacent single undulating portions are interconnected by at least one weld connection.

15. A longitudinally flexible stent, comprising:

a stent pattern having a plurality of single undulating portions extending circumferentially about a longitudinal axis, the single undulating portions being connected together along the longitudinal axis;

the single undulating portions having a length less than 2.5 mm;

the plurality of single undulating portions having open ends and closed ends, at least one of the open ends being no wider than one of the closed ends when the stent is mounted on an expandable member before expansion.