Patent EP0796597A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0796597A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stent for supporting lumens in living tissue
Assignee: Medtronic Vascular Inc
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Filing: 1997-03-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-03-13
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure relates to a stent (10) for helping to hold open a lumen in a tubular body structure having at least one axial portion (12a to 12e), preferably an axial end portion (12a or 12e) that stents the surrounding portion of the tubular body structure to a lesser degree than another axial portion (12c or 12d) of the stent. For example, the stent portion that stents to a lesser degree may be circumferentially weaker than the other stent portion, or it may recoil more than the other stent portion after the stent is applied by being circumferentially expanded and then released.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert D. Lashinshi
- 👤 Matthew J. Birdsall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:17
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/82; A61F2/86; A61F2/90; A61F2/95; A61F2/958; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0014; A61F2250/0018; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S623/00; Y10S623/902; Y10S623/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 67
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A stent for helping to hold open a lumen in a tubular body structure comprising: a first axial stent portion which is radially adjacent to a first axial portion of the tubular body structure; and a second axial stent portion which is radially adjacent to a second axial portion of the tubular body structure, said first axial stent portion being adapted to stent said first axial portion of the tubular body structure to a greater degree than said second axial stent portion is adapted to stent said second axial portion of the tubular body structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
36 words
The stent defined in claim 1 wherein said second axial stent portion is adjacent to an axial end of said stent and said first axial stent portion is axially spaced from axial ends of said stent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
100 words
The stent defined in claim 2 further comprising: a third axial stent portion which is radially adjacent to a third axial portion of the tubular body structure, said third stent portion being adapted to stent said third axial portion of the tubular body structure to a lesser degree than said first axial stent portion is adapted to stent said first axial portion of the tubular body structure, said third axial stent portion being adjacent to an axial end of said stent that is remote from the axial end of said stent that said second axial stent portion is adjacent to.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The stent defined in claim 1 wherein said second axiai stent portion is circumferentially weaker than said first axial stent portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The stent defined in claim 4 wherein said second axial stent portion is circumferentially elastically weaker than said first axial stent portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The stent defined in claim 4 wherein said second axial stent portion is circumferentially plastically weaker than said first axial stent portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The stent defined in claim 4 wherein said second axial stent portion is made circumferentially weaker by forming it using a material that is weaker than a material from which said first axial stent portion is formed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The stent defined in claim 7 wherein the material of said second axial stent portion has a lower modulus of elasticity than the material of said first axial stent portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The stent defined in claim 7 wherein the material of said second axial stent portion has a lower yield strength than the material of said first axial stent portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The stent defined in claim 9 wherein the material of said first and second axial stent portions is metal which has been annealed to a greater degree in said second axial stent portion than in said first axial stent portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The stent defined in claim 9 wherein the material of said first and second stent portions is precipitation hardening material which has been precipitation hardened to a greater degree in said first axial stent portion than in said second axial stent portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The stent defined in claim 4 wherein said second axial stent portion is made circumferentially weaker by forming it using a member that has a smaller cross section than a member from which said first axial stent portion is formed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The stent defined in claim 4 wherein said second axial stent portion is made circumferentially weaker by forming it using members that are longer between connections to other members than members from which said first axial stent portion is formed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stent defined in claim 1 wherein said second axial stent portion has a higher yield strength than said first axial stent portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
The stent defined in claim 14 wherein said stent is disposed in said lumen by being circumferentially expanded after positioning in said lumen, and wherein, as a result of its higher yield strength, said second axial stent portion recoils from circumferential expansion to a greater degree than said first axial stent portion recoils from circumferential expansion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The stent defined in claim 1 wherein said second axial stent portion is formed from a material having a higher yield strength than material from which said first axial stent portion is formed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The stent defined in claim 16 wherein the material of said stent is metal which has been annealed to a greater degree in said first axial stent portion than in said second axial stent portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The stent defined in claim 16 wherein the material of said stent is precipitation hardening material which has been precipitation hardened to a greater degree in said second axial stent portion than in said first axial stent portion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
68 words
A stent for helping to hold open a lumen in a tubular body structure comprising: a first axial stent portion which is radially adjacent to a first axial portion of the tubular body structure; and a second axial stent portion which is radially adjacent to a second axial portion of the tubular body structure, said second axial stent portion being circumferentially weaker than said first axial stent portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The stent defined in claim 19 wherein said second axial stent portion is adjacent to an axial end of said stent and said first axial stent portion is axially spaced from axial ends of said stent.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
74 words
The stent defined in claim 20 further comprising: a third axial stent portion which is radially adjacent to a third axial portion of the tubular body structure, said third axial stent portion being circumferentially weaker than said first axial stent portion, said third axial stent portion being adjacent to an axial end of said stent that is remote from the axial end of said stent that said second axial stent portion is adjacent to.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The stent defined in claim 20 wherein said second axial stent portion is circumferentially elastically weaker than said first axial stent portion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The stent defined in claim 20 wherein said second axial stent portion is circumferentially plastically weaker than said first axial stent portion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The stent defined in claim 20 wherein said second axial stent portion is made circumferentially weaker by forming it using a material that is weaker than a material from which said first axial stent portion is formed.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The stent defined in claim 24 wherein the material of said second axial stent portion has a lower modulus of elasticity than the material of said first axial stent portion.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The stent defined in claim 24 wherein the material of said second axial stent portion has a lower yield strength than the material of said first axial stent portion.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
The stent defined in claim 26 wherein the material of said first and second axial stent portions is metal which has been annealed to a greater degree in said second axial stent portion than in said first axial stent portion.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
The stent defined in claim 26 wherein the material of said first and second stent portions is precipitation hardening material which has been precipitation hardened to a greater degree in said first axial stent portion than in said second axial stent portion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
40 words
The stent defined in claim 20 wherein said second axial stent portion is made circumferentially weaker by forming it using a member that has a smaller cross section than a member from which said first axial stent portion is formed.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
The stent defined in claim 20 wherein said second axial stent portion is made circumferentially weaker by forming it using members that are longer between connections to other members than members from which said first axial stent portion is formed.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
100 words
A stent for helping to hold open a lumen in a tubular body structure comprising: a first axial stent portion which is radially adjacent to a first axial portion of the tubular body structure; and a second axial stent portion which is axially adjacent to a second axial portion of the tubular body structure, said second axial stent portion having a greater yield strength than said first axial stent portion so that when said stent is circumferentially expanded and then released, said second axial stent portion recoils from circumferential expansion to a greater degree than said first axial stent portion.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
36 words
The stent defined in claim 31 wherein said second axial stent portion is adjacent to an axial end of said stent and said first axial stent portion is axially spaced from axial ends of said stent.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
76 words
The stent defined in claim 32 further comprising: a third axial stent portion which is radially adjacent to a third axial portion of the tubular body structure, said third axial stent portion having a greater yield strength than said first axial stent portion, said third axial stent portion being adjacent to an axial end of said stent that is remote from the axial end of said stent that said second axial stent portion is adjacent to.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
35 words
The stent defined in claim 32 wherein the material of said stent is metal which has been annealed to a greater degree in said first axial stent portion than in said second axial stent portion.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
38 words
The stent defined in claim 32 wherein the material of said stent is precipitation hardening material which has been precipitation hardened to a greater degree in said second axial stent portion than in said first axial stent portion.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
95 words
The method of implanting an axially extending annular stent in a tubular body structure to radially support the tubular body structure, said stent having first and second axially spaced portions such that said first portion is circumferentially stronger than said second portion, said method comprising the steps of: inserting said stent in said tubular body structure; circumferentially expanding said stent; and releasing said stent so that it must support itself and said tubular body structure and so that said tubular body structure is able to circumferentially recompress said second portion more than said first portion.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method defined in claim 36 further comprising the step of: forming said first portion so that it is circumferentially elastically stronger than said second portion.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method defined in claim 36 further comprising the step of: forming said first portion so that it is circumferentially plastically stronger than said second portion.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method defined in claim 36 further comprising the step of: forming said first portion from a material that is stronger than a material from which said second portion is formed.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method defined in claim 39 wherein said forming step comprises the step of: employing for said first portion a material having a higher modulus of elasticity than the material from which said second portion is formed.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method defined in claim 39 wherein said forming step comprises the step of: employing for said first portion a material having a higher yield strength than the material from which said second portion is formed.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method defined in claim 41 wherein the material of said stent is metal, and wherein said employing step comprises the step of: annealing the metal of said second portion to a greater degree than the metal of said first portion is annealed.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method defined in claim 41 wherein the material of said stent is precipitation hardening material, and wherein said employing step comprises the step of: precipitation hardening the material of said first portion to a greater degree than the material of said second portion is precipitation hardened.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method defined in claim 36 further comprising the step of: forming said first portion from a member having a larger cross section than a member from which said second portion is formed.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method defined in claim 36 further comprising the step of: forming said first portion from members that are shorter between connections to other members than members from which said second portion is formed.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method defined in claim 36 wherein said stent also has a third portion axially spaced from said second portion by said first portion, said first portion also being circumferentially stronger than said third portion, and wherein said releasing step comprises the step of releasing said third portion so that said tubular body structure is able to circumferentially recompress said third portion more than said first portion.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
93 words
The method of implanting an axially extending annular stent in a tubular body structure to radially support the tubular body structure, said stent having first and second axially spaced portions such that said second portion has a higher yield strength than said first portion, said method comprising the steps of: inserting said stent in said tubular body structure; circumferentially expanding said stent; and releasing said stent so that it must support itself and said tubular body structure and so that said second portion springs back more from circumferential expansion than said first portion.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method defined in claim 47 wherein said stent is made of metal, and wherein said method further comprises the step of: forming said first portion from metal that is annealed to a greater degree than the metal from which said second portion is formed.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method defined in claim 47 wherein said stent is made of precipitation hardening material, and wherein said method further comprises the step of: forming said second portion from material that is precipitation hardened to a greater degree than the material from which said first portion is formed.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method defined in claim 47 wherein said stent also has a third portion axially spaced from said second portion by said first portion, said third portion also having a higher yield strength than said first portion, and wherein said releasing step comprises the step of releasing said third portion so that said third portion springs back more from circumferential expansion than said first portion.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
76 words
The method of making an annular, axially extending stent for insertion into a tubular body structure to radially support the tubular body structure, said method comprising the steps of: forming a first annular axial portion of said stent so that said first portion is circumferentially relatively strong; and forming a second annular axial portion of said stent so that said second portion is circumferentially relatively weak, said second portion being axially spaced from said first portion.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method defined in claim 51 wherein said first portion is formed as an axially medial portion of said stent, and wherein said second portion is formed as an axial end portion of said stent.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method defined in claim 52 further comprising the step of: forming a third annular axial portion of said stent so that said third portion is circumferentially relatively weak, said third portion being an axial end portion which is axially remote from said second portion.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method defined in claim 51 wherein said forming steps include the step of: forming said first portion so that it is circumferentially elastically stronger than said second portion.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method defined in claim 51 wherein said forming steps include the step of: forming said first portion so that it is circumferentially plastically stronger than said second portion.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method defined in claim 51 wherein said forming steps include the step of: employing for said second portion a material that is weaker than a material from which said first portion is formed.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method defined in claim 56 wherein said employing step comprises the step of: producing said second portion from a material that has a lower modulus of elasticity than the material from which said first portion is formed.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method defined in claim 56 wherein said employing step comprises the step of: producing said second portion from a material that has a lower yield strength than the material from which said first portion is formed.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method defined in claim 58 wherein the material of said first and second portions is metal, and wherein said producing step comprises the step of: annealing said second portion to a greater degree than said first portion is annealed.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method defined in claim 58 wherein the material of said first and second portions is precipitation hardening material, and wherein said producing step comprises the step of: precipitation hardening said first portion to a greater degree than said second portion is precipitation hardened.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method defined in claim 51 wherein said forming steps include the step of: employing for said second portion a member having a smaller cross section than a member from which said first portion is formed.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method defined in claim 51 wherein said forming steps include the step of: employing for said second portion members that are longer between connections to other members than members from which said first portion is formed.
Claim 63
Independent Claim
73 words
The method of making an annular, axially extending stent for insertion into a tubular body structure, said method comprising the steps of: forming a first annular axial portion of said stent so that said first portion has a relatively low yield strength; and forming a second annular axial portion of said stent so that said second portion has a relatively high yield strength, said second portion being axially spaced from said first portion.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method defined in claim 63 wherein said first portion is formed as an axially medial portion of said stent, and wherein said second portion is formed as an axial end portion of said stent.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method defined in claim 64 further comprising the step of: forming a third annular axial portion of said stent so that said third portion has relatively high yield strength, said third portion being an axial end portion which is axially remote from said second portion.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method defined in claim 63 wherein said first and second portions are formed from metal, and wherein said forming steps include the step of: annealing said first portion to a greater degree than said second portion is annealed.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method defined in claim 63 wherein said first and second portions are formed from precipitation hardening material, and wherein said forming steps include the step of: precipitation hardening said second portion to a greater degree than said first portion is precipitation hardened.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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