EP0800801A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stent having varied amounts of structural strength along its length
Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc
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Filing: 1996-08-01
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-08-01
Abstract
Abstract The invention is directed to an expandable stent (10) for implanting in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery. The stent has an open lattice structure and is constructed so that at least one end section (36,38) has a thicker cross-section and corresponding greater radial strength than the remaining sections of the stent.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy A. Limon
- 👤 Todd H. Turnlund
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:25
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/82; A61F2/86; A61F2/88; A61F2/885; A61F2/90; A61F2/91; A61F2/915; A61F2/95; A61F2/958; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/30004; A61F2002/30014; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/3011; A61F2002/30138; A61F2002/30153; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30317; A61F2002/30324; A61F2002/821; A61F2002/91533; A61F2002/9155; A61F2002/91558; A61F2002/91575; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0017; A61F2230/0019; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0014; A61F2250/0018; A61F2250/0036
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
An intravascular stent (10) for implanting in a body lumen, comprising: an elongated tubular body having a first end section (36) and a second end section (38), and a central section (37); said elongated tubular member also having an open lattice structure and adapted for radial expansion from a first compressed diameter, to an enlarged, second diameter; and said first end section (36) having a thicker open lattice structure than said central section (37) and said second end section (38), so that when said stent is expanded to said enlarged, second diameter, said thicker open lattice structure of said first end section is radially stronger and more crush resistant than said central section and said second end section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
43 words
The stent of claim 1, wherein both said first end section (36) and second end section (38) have a thicker open lattice structure than does said central section (37), making said first and second end sections substantially radially stronger than said central section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The stent of claim 1, wherein said thicker open lattice structure gradually becomes thicker from about said central section (37) toward said first end section (36).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The stent of claim 1, wherein said thicker open lattice structure of said first end section (36) is on an arcuate section (40) of said first end section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The stent of claim 1, wherein said thicker open lattice structure of said stent is on an arcuate section (40) of all of said sections (36,38,37) of said stent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
122 words
A longitudinally flexible stent (10) for implanting in a body lumen, comprising: a plurality of cylindrical elements (12) which are independently expandable in the radial direction and which are interconnected so as to be generally aligned on a common longitudinal axis, at least some of said cylindrical elements having a thicker cross section than other cylindrical elements; a plurality of connecting elements (13) for interconnecting said cylindrical elements (12), said connecting elements (13) configured to interconnect only said cylindrical elements (12) that are adjacent to each other so that as said stent (10) is expanded radially outwardly from a first diameter to a second, enlarged diameter, said cylindrical elements having said thicker cross-section providing substantially more radial support in the body lumen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The stent of claim 6, wherein said plurality of cylindrical elements (12) includes a first end cylindrical element (36,12) and a second end cylindrical element (38,12), said first end cylindrical element having said thicker cross-section than said other cylindrical elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stent of claim 7, wherein said first (36,12) and second (38,12)end cylindrical elements having said thicker cross-sections than said other cylindrical elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
119 words
A longitudinally flexible stent (10), comprising: a plurality of cylindrical elements (12) which are independently expandable in the radial direction and which are interconnected so as to be concentrically aligned on a common longitudinal axis, and which are constructed such that at least one end (36) of said flexible stent has cylindrical elements (12) that are radially stronger than said cylindrical elements (12) closer to the center (37) of said stent; and a plurality of generally parallel connecting elements (13) for interconnecting said cylindrical elements (12), said connecting elements (13) configured to interconnect only said cylindrical elements (12) that are adjacent to each other, so that said stent, when expanded radially outwardly, retains its overall length without appreciable shortening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The stent of claim 9, wherein said cylindrical elements (12) are capable of retaining their expanded condition upon the expansion thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stent of claim 9, wherein said radially-expandable cylindrical elements (12) in an expanded condition have a length less than the diameter thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The stent of Claim 6 or Claim 11, wherein said stent is formed of a biocompatible material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, tantalum, nickel-titanium (NiTi) alloys, and thermoplastic polymers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The stent of claim 9, wherein said connecting elements (13) between adjacent cylindrical elements (12) are in axial alignment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The stent of claim 9, wherein said connecting elements (13) between adjacent cylindrical elements (12) are circumferentially displaced with respect to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The stent of claim 14, wherein the circumferential displacement of said connecting elements (12) between adjacent cylindrical elements (12) is uniform.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stent of claim 9, wherein there are up to four of said connecting elements (13) disposed between adjacent radially-expandable cylindrical elements (12).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The stent of claim 12, wherein said radially-expandable cylindrical elements (12) and said connecting elements (13) are made of the same material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The stent of Claim 6 or Claim 9, wherein said stent is formed from a single piece of tubing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The stent of claim 6 or claim 9, wherein the stent is coated with a biocompatible coating.
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