Stent

• US 8,652,196 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2006
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Nissl, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Sweet, Thomas J
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRESTON, REBECCA STRASZHEIM
• Application Number:
  US11/521,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20070150049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,713 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 2/91 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 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91575 connected peak to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped

Abstract

A stent and associated method for implanting a stent within a body conduit are provided. According to one embodiment, the stent includes a plurality of annular segments arranged peripherally along a longitudinal axis to define opposing free ends, wherein each annular segment includes a plurality of interconnected segment struts. The stent also includes a plurality of connector struts each extending along the longitudinal axis between, and connecting, adjacent annular segments, wherein each connector strut includes an axial section and a compensating section. In addition, at least a portion of each of the segment struts, axial sections, and compensating sections is curved.

Claims

1. A stent comprising:

a plurality of annular segments arranged peripherally along a longitudinal axis to define opposing free ends, each annular segment comprising a plurality of interconnected segment struts; and

a plurality of connector struts each extending along the longitudinal axis between, and connecting, adjacent annular segments, each connector strut comprising an axial section and a compensating section, wherein at least a portion of each of the segment struts, axial sections, and compensating sections is curved, wherein each of the compensating sections comprises a V-shaped section having a pair of curved inclined sections, wherein each of the segment struts and axial sections continuously curve along their respective lengths, wherein a pair of segment struts is configured to conform to each axial section along their respective lengths in a contracted state, and wherein a plurality of adjacent segment struts are adjoined to one another via a transition section, the transition section being directly attached to an adjacent compensating section.

2. The stent according to claim 1, wherein each of the segment struts and axial sections is curved in a wave shape.

3. The stent according to claim 1, wherein each of the segment struts extends obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis.

4. The stent according to claim 1, wherein each of the compensating sections comprises a pair of arms extending parallel to one another and from the pair of curved inclined sections to define a closed end.

5. The stent according to claim 4, wherein each of the closed ends extend in a same peripheral direction.

6. The stent according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of head ends extending from respective transition sections at one or more of the free ends.

7. The stent according to claim 1, wherein a width of at least a portion of each of the connector struts is less than a width of each of the segments struts.

8. The stent according to claim 7, wherein a width of each axial section is less than a width of each segment strut.

9. The stent according to claim 1, wherein each of the segment struts widens from a middle area to its respective ends.

10. The stent according to claim 1, wherein each annular segment comprises a plurality of segment struts defining a plurality of peaks and valleys each extending in a same axial direction along the longitudinal axis, and wherein each of the plurality of connector struts extends between respective peaks of the segment struts.

11. A stent comprising:

a plurality of annular segments arranged peripherally along a longitudinal axis to define opposing free ends, each annular segment comprising a plurality of interconnected segment struts; and

a plurality of connector struts each extending along the longitudinal axis between, and connecting, adjacent annular segments, the plurality of the connector struts comprising;

an axial section connected to a given annular segment of the plurality of annular segments; and

a compensating section, comprising;

a pair of arms oppositely curved and inclined, a first arm of the pair of arms connecting to the axial section, and a second arm of the pair of arms connecting to an annular segment of the plurality of annular segments that is adjacent to the given annular segment;

parallel end sections connecting to the pair of arms; and

a closed end connecting the parallel end sections;

wherein each of the interconnected segment struts and connector struts continuously curve along at least a portion of their respective lengths.

12. The stent according to claim 11, wherein at least a portion of each of the segment struts and connector struts is curved in a wave shape.