Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
318 words
A radially expandable stent for implantation within a body vessel, comprising: a first wire formed winding having a hollow cylindrical shape defining a lumen, the first winding including a preformed sinusoidal wave pattern wound into a continuous helix the length of the stent which permits even expansion of the first winding, the first winding having a proximal end and a distal end, each wave having a wave length and a wave amplitude such that the wave length and wave amplitude ratio results in unaligned wave apexes in adjoining waves of the first wire foraged winding; a second wire formed winding having a hollow cylindrical shape defining a lumen, the second winding including a preformed sinusoidal wave pattern wound into a continuous helix which permits even expansion of the second winding, the second winding having a wave length which is less than the wave length of the first winding such that the second winding has more wire per unit surface area than the first winding, the second winding having a proximal end and a distal end attached to each other to form a ring, the second winding being attached to the proximal end of the first winding; a third wire formed winding having a hollow cylindrical shape defining a lumen, the third winding including a preformed sinusoidal wave pattern wound into a continuous helix which permits even expansion of the third winding, the third winding having a wave length which is less than the wave length of the first winding such that the third winding has more wire per unit surface area than the first winding, the third winding having a proximal end and a distal end attached to each other to form a ring, the third winding being attached to the distal end of the first winding; and a means extending longitudinally throughout the first, second and third winding lumens to expand the first, second and third windings.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
318 words
A radially expandable stent for implantation within a body vessel, comprising: a first wire formed winding having a hollow cylindrical shape defining a lumen, the first winding including a preformed sinusoidal wave pattern wound into a continuous helix the length of the stent which permits even expansion of the first winding, the first winding having a proximal end and a distal end, each wave having a wave length and a wave amplitude such that the wave length and wave amplitude ratio results in unaligned wave apexes in adjoining waves of the first wire foraged winding; a second wire formed winding having a hollow cylindrical shape defining a lumen, the second winding including a preformed sinusoidal wave pattern wound into a continuous helix which permits even expansion of the second winding, the second winding having a wave length which is less than the wave length of the first winding such that the second winding has more wire per unit surface area than the first winding, the second winding having a proximal end and a distal end attached to each other to form a ring, the second winding being attached to the proximal end of the first winding; a third wire formed winding having a hollow cylindrical shape defining a lumen, the third winding including a preformed sinusoidal wave pattern wound into a continuous helix which permits even expansion of the third winding, the third winding having a wave length which is less than the wave length of the first winding such that the third winding has more wire per unit surface area than the first winding, the third winding having a proximal end and a distal end attached to each other to form a ring, the third winding being attached to the distal end of the first winding; and a means extending longitudinally throughout the first, second and third winding lumens to expand the first, second and third windings.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The stent according to claim 1 wherein the first, second and third windings are formed of a biocompatible low memory level metal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The stent according to claim 1 wherein the first, second and third windings are formed of a biocompatible clad alloy having a radiopaque material covered with a higher strength material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The stent according to claim 1 wherein the first, second and third windings are formed of MP-35N with at least 33% tantalum by volume.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The stent according to claim 1 wherein the first, second and third windings are formed of a stainless steel alloy 316 with greater than 25% tantalum by volume.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The stent according to claim 1 wherein the means for expanding the first, second and third windings is an expandable balloon extending longitudinally within the first, second and third winding.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The stent according to claim 1 wherein the first winding has a sinusoidal wave form pattern wound into a continuous helix, the first winding having a uniform wave length and amplitude.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The stent according to claim 7 wherein the first winding has a wave length of about 0.150 inches to about 0.090 inches.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The stent according to claim 7 wherein the first winding has a wave amplitude of about 0.080 inches to about 0.050 inches.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stent according to claim 1 wherein the second winding has a wave amplitude smaller than the wave amplitude of the first winding.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The stent according to claim 10 wherein the second winding has a wave length of about 0.050.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The stent according to claim 10 wherein the second winding has a wave amplitude of about 0.030 inches.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stent according to claim 1 wherein the third winding has a wave amplitude smaller than the wave amplitude of the first winding.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The stent according to claim 13 wherein the third winding has a wave length of about 0.050.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The stent according to claim 13 wherein the third winding has a wave amplitude of about 0.030 inches.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A stent according to claim 1 where the first, second and third winding are formed from a unitary wire.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
324 words
A method for making a stent body for implantation within a body vessel comprising the steps of: preforming a first wire segment into an evenly expandable helical sinusoidal wave pattern wound into a continuous helix the length of the stent, the first wire segment having a proximal end and a distal end, each wave having a wave length and a wave amplitude such that the wave length and wave amplitude ratio results in unaligned wave apexes in adjoining waves; preforming a second wire segment into an evenly expandable helical sinusoidal wave pattern, the second wire segment having a proximal end and a distal end; preforming a third wire segment into an evenly expandable helical sinusoidal wave pattern, the third wire segment having a proximal end and a distal end; winding the preformed first wire segment on a cylindrical mandrel such that the pattern is retained; winding the preformed second wire segment on the mandrel such that the pattern is retained, the second wire segment having a wave length which is less than the wave length of the first wire segment such than the second wire segment has more wire per unit surface area than the first wire segment; attaching the proximal end of the second wire segment to the distal end of the second wire segment to form a ring; attaching the proximal end of the first wire segment to the second wire segment; winding the preformed third wire segment on the mandrel such that the pattern is retained, the third wire segment having a wave length which is less than the wave length of the first wire segment such that the third wire segment has more wire per unit surface area than the first wire segment; attaching the proximal end of the third wire segment to the distal end of the third wire segment to form a ring; and attaching the distal end of the first wire segment to the third wire segment.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
324 words
A method for making a stent body for implantation within a body vessel comprising the steps of: preforming a first wire segment into an evenly expandable helical sinusoidal wave pattern wound into a continuous helix the length of the stent, the first wire segment having a proximal end and a distal end, each wave having a wave length and a wave amplitude such that the wave length and wave amplitude ratio results in unaligned wave apexes in adjoining waves; preforming a second wire segment into an evenly expandable helical sinusoidal wave pattern, the second wire segment having a proximal end and a distal end; preforming a third wire segment into an evenly expandable helical sinusoidal wave pattern, the third wire segment having a proximal end and a distal end; winding the preformed first wire segment on a cylindrical mandrel such that the pattern is retained; winding the preformed second wire segment on the mandrel such that the pattern is retained, the second wire segment having a wave length which is less than the wave length of the first wire segment such than the second wire segment has more wire per unit surface area than the first wire segment; attaching the proximal end of the second wire segment to the distal end of the second wire segment to form a ring; attaching the proximal end of the first wire segment to the second wire segment; winding the preformed third wire segment on the mandrel such that the pattern is retained, the third wire segment having a wave length which is less than the wave length of the first wire segment such that the third wire segment has more wire per unit surface area than the first wire segment; attaching the proximal end of the third wire segment to the distal end of the third wire segment to form a ring; and attaching the distal end of the first wire segment to the third wire segment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 17 further including the step of selecting a unitary wire for the first, second and third wire segments.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 17 further including the step of selecting the first, second and third wire with a sinusoidal wave form having a uniform wave length and wave amplitude.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 19 further including the step of selecting the wave amplitude of the second and third wire segments which is less than the wave amplitude of the first wire pattern.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
422 words
A radially expandable stent for implantation within a body vessel, comprising: a first wire formed winding having a hollow cylindrical shape defining a lumen, the first winding including a preformed sinusoidal wave pattern wound into a continuous helix the length of the stent which permits even expansion of the first winding, the first winding having a proximal end and a distal end, each wave having a wave length and a wave amplitude such that the wave length and wave amplitude ratio results in unaligned wave apexes in adjoining waves of the first wire formed winding; a second wire formed winding having a hollow cylindrical shape defining a lumen, the second winding including a preformed sinusoidal wave pattern wound into a continuous helix which permits even expansion of the second winding, the second winding having a wave length which is less than the wave length of the first winding and a wave amplitude which is less than the wave amplitude of the first winding such that the second winding has more wire per unit surface area than the first winding, the second winding having a proximal end and a distal end attached to each other to form a ring, the second winding being attached to the proximal end of the first winding; a third wire formed winding having a hollow cylindrical shape defining a lumen, the third winding including a preformed sinusoidal wave pattern wound into a continuous helix which permits even expansion of the third winding, the third winding having a wave length which is less than the wave length of the first winding and a wave amplitude which is less than the wave amplitude of the first winding such that the third winding has more wire per unit surface area than the first winding, the third winding having a proximal end and a distal end attached to each other to form a ring, the third winding being attached to the distal end of the first winding, each second wire formed winding wave having a wave length and a wave amplitude such that the wave length and wave amplitude ratio results in unaligned wave apexes in adjoining waves of the first wire formed winding, each third wire formed winding wave having a wave length and a wave amplitude such that the wave length and wave amplitude ratio results in unaligned wave apexes in adjoining waves of the first wire formed winding; and a means extending longitudinally throughout the first, second and third winding lumens to expand the first, second and third windings.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
422 words
A radially expandable stent for implantation within a body vessel, comprising: a first wire formed winding having a hollow cylindrical shape defining a lumen, the first winding including a preformed sinusoidal wave pattern wound into a continuous helix the length of the stent which permits even expansion of the first winding, the first winding having a proximal end and a distal end, each wave having a wave length and a wave amplitude such that the wave length and wave amplitude ratio results in unaligned wave apexes in adjoining waves of the first wire formed winding; a second wire formed winding having a hollow cylindrical shape defining a lumen, the second winding including a preformed sinusoidal wave pattern wound into a continuous helix which permits even expansion of the second winding, the second winding having a wave length which is less than the wave length of the first winding and a wave amplitude which is less than the wave amplitude of the first winding such that the second winding has more wire per unit surface area than the first winding, the second winding having a proximal end and a distal end attached to each other to form a ring, the second winding being attached to the proximal end of the first winding; a third wire formed winding having a hollow cylindrical shape defining a lumen, the third winding including a preformed sinusoidal wave pattern wound into a continuous helix which permits even expansion of the third winding, the third winding having a wave length which is less than the wave length of the first winding and a wave amplitude which is less than the wave amplitude of the first winding such that the third winding has more wire per unit surface area than the first winding, the third winding having a proximal end and a distal end attached to each other to form a ring, the third winding being attached to the distal end of the first winding, each second wire formed winding wave having a wave length and a wave amplitude such that the wave length and wave amplitude ratio results in unaligned wave apexes in adjoining waves of the first wire formed winding, each third wire formed winding wave having a wave length and a wave amplitude such that the wave length and wave amplitude ratio results in unaligned wave apexes in adjoining waves of the first wire formed winding; and a means extending longitudinally throughout the first, second and third winding lumens to expand the first, second and third windings.