Stent capable of attachment within a body lumen

Claim 2

An expandable intraluminal stent implanted in a vessel, comprising: a body portion having a length and circumference formed from a substantially solid wall of biocompatible material; a plurality of protrusions projecting along the length and circumference of said body portion; a plurality of aperatures in said body portion, said aperatures being formed in said solid wall as a result of said plurality of protrusions being formed; wherein some of said protrusions engage some of said apertures and several of said protrusions engage said vessel, to retain said intraluminal stent in said vessel.

Claim 3

The expandable intraluminal stent of claim 1, wherein: said body portion has an exterior surface adjacent to said vessel, and said protrusions project from said exterior surface of said body portion.

Claim 4

The expandable intraluminal stent of claim 2, wherein said protrusions are unitary with said body portion and have a substantially "V" shape, and said apertures are in substantially the shape of said protrusions.

Claim 5

The expandable intraluminal stent of claim 3, wherein said protrusions have substantially equal sides that form an apex, with said sides spaced by an angle of about 90° at said apex.

Claim 6

The expandable intraluminal stent of claim 4, wherein said protrusions are spaced at about 0.0189 inches to one another, and said sides are about 0.014 inches long.

Claim 7

The expandable intraluminal stent of claim 3, wherein said stent is formed of a bioabsorbable material.

Claim 8

The expandable intraluminal stent of claim 3, wherein said stent is radiopaque.

Claim 9

The expandable intraluminal stent of claim 3, wherein said stent is formed of a plastic, said plastic comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly (lactic) acid, poly (glycolic) acid and polycaprolactone.

Claim 10

The expandable intraluminal stent of claim 8, wherein said polymer further comprises an associated copolymer selected from the group comprised of L-polylactic acid, DL-polylactic acid, and PGA-poly glycolic acid.

Claim 11

The expandable intraluminal stent of claim 3, wherein said protrusions are spaced from one another in a substantially uniform manner, to form rows of protrusions.

Claim 12

The expandable intraluminal stent of claim 3, wherein said protrusions are randomly dispersed throughout said body portion.

Claim 13

The expandable intraluminal stent of claim 3, wherein said stent is formed of a linear aliphatic polyester polymer.

Claim 14

The expandable intraluminal stent of claim 1, wherein said body portion is made of material formed into a cylinder.

Claim 15

The expandable intraluminal stent of claim 13, wherein said material contains a therapeutic drug.

Claim 16

The expandable intraluminal stent of claim 14, wherein said material comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, polycaprolactone, and their associated copolymers, wherein said associated copolymers are selected from the group consisting of L-poly lactic acid, DL-poly lactic acid, and PGA-poly glycolic acid.

Claim 17

The expandable intraluminal stent of claim 13, wherein said body portion has an exterior surface adjacent to said vessel, and said protrusions project from said exterior surface of said body portion.

Claim 18

The expandable intraluminal stent of claim 13, wherein said material is bioabsorbable.

Claim 19

The expandable intraluminal stent of claim 13, wherein said cylinder has a longitudinal axis and two ends spaced along said longitudinal axis, and said ends are beveled to allow said stent to be more flexible at said ends.

Claim 20

An intraluminal stent implantable in a body lumen, comprising: a sheet of material formed of a biocompatible material; said sheet curled into a cylinder having overlapping ends; said cylindrical sheet having a length and a circumference; a plurality of protuberances projecting along the length and circumference of said sheet; a plurality of apertures in said sheet of materials, said apertures corresponding in shape to the shape of said protuberances; said apertures being formed in said sheet as a result of said plurality of protuberances being formed whereby said cylinder is expanded from a first diameter to a second, enlarged diameter so that said protuberances engage said body lumen.

Claim 21

An intraluminal stent implantable in a body lumen, comprising: a sheet of material formed of a biocompatible material; said sheet curled into a cylinder having overlapping ends; said cylindrical sheet having a length and a circumference; a plurality of protuberances projecting along the length and circumference of said sheet; a plurality of apertures in said sheet of materials, said apertures corresponding in shape to the shape of said protuberances; said apertures being formed in said sheet as a result of said plurality of protuberances being formed whereby said cylinder is expanded from a first diameter to a second, enlarged diameter so that said protuberances engage said body lumen.

Claim 22

The intraluminal stent of claim 19, wherein: said cylinder has an outer portion, said outer portion being adjacent to said lumen, and said protuberances extend from said outer portion.

Claim 23

The intraluminal stent of claim 18, wherein: said protuberances are substantially "V"-shaped, and are unitary with said sheet.

Claim 24

The intraluminal stent of claim 20, wherein said protuberances are dispersed around said outer portion of said cylinder in a random pattern.

Claim 25

The expandable intraluminal stent of claim 20, wherein said material is biocompatible and selected from the group consisting of poly (lactic acid), poly (glycolic acid), and polycaprolactone, polyorthoester, polyanhydride, polydioxanone, polyhydroxybutyrate, stainless steel, nickel-titanium, platinum, Nitinol™, tantalum and gold.

Claim 26

The expandable intraluminal stent of claim 19, wherein said material contains a therapeutic drug.

Claim 27

The expandable intraluminal stent of claim 19 wherein said cylinder has a longitudinal axis and a two ends spaced along said longitudinal axis, and said ends are beveled to allow said stent to be more flexible at said ends.

Claim 28

The expandable intraluminal stent of claim 20, wherein said material is radiopaque.

Claim 29

An expandable intraluminal stent implantable in a body lumen, adapted to expand from a reduced diameter form to an expanded diameter form, comprising: a sheet of biocompatible material curled into a cylinder having overlapping edges, an inner surface, and an exterior surface; said apertures being formed in said sheet as a result of said plurality of protrusions being formed said exterior surface contiguous with said lumen, and said overlapping edges allowing contact between said exterior surface and said interior surface; said exterior surface having a surface texture made of a plurality of protrusions projecting along the length and circumference of said exterior surface; a plurality of apertures in said sheet of material, said apertures corresponding in shape to the shape of said protrusions said apertures being formed in said sheet as a result of said plurality of protrusions being formed; wherein said stent is held in said expanded diameter form to engage said lumen by combining said surface texture of said exterior surface engaging said inner surface and said surface texture of said exterior surface engaging said lumen.

Claim 30

An expandable intraluminal stent implantable in a body lumen, adapted to expand from a reduced diameter form to an expanded diameter form, comprising: a sheet of biocompatible material curled into a cylinder having overlapping edges, an inner surface, and an exterior surface; said apertures being formed in said sheet as a result of said plurality of protrusions being formed said exterior surface contiguous with said lumen, and said overlapping edges allowing contact between said exterior surface and said interior surface; said exterior surface having a surface texture made of a plurality of protrusions projecting along the length and circumference of said exterior surface; a plurality of apertures in said sheet of material, said apertures corresponding in shape to the shape of said protrusions said apertures being formed in said sheet as a result of said plurality of protrusions being formed; wherein said stent is held in said expanded diameter form to engage said lumen by combining said surface texture of said exterior surface engaging said inner surface and said surface texture of said exterior surface engaging said lumen.

Claim 31

The intraluminal stent of claim 27, wherein said inner surface contains a plurality of apertures, and said protrusions engage said apertures.

Claim 32

The intraluminal stent of claim 27, wherein said material is biodegradable.

Claim 33

The intraluminal stent of claim 29, wherein said material is a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly (lactic acid), poly (glycolic acid), polycaprolactone, polyorthoester, polyanhydride, polydioxanone and polyhydroxybutyrate.

Claim 34

The intraluminal stent of claim 27, wherein said material is a biocompatible material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, nickel-titanium, platinum, Nitinol™, tantalum and gold.

Claim 35

The intraluminal stent of claim 27, wherein said material contains a therapeutic agent.

Claim 36

The intraluminal stent of claim 27, wherein said cylinder has a longitudinal axis and a two ends spaced along said longitudinal axis, and said ends are beveled to allow said stent to be more flexible at said ends.

Claim 37

The intraluminal stent of claim 27, wherein said material is radiopaque.