US5766239A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Balloon-expandable, crush resistant locking stent and method of loading the same
Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1997-10-03
•
Granted: 1998-06-16
•
Expires: 2017-10-03
Abstract
Abstract An intraluminal, crush resistant stent for implantation in a body lumen is disclosed. The crush resistant stent is made from a base section having a plurality of resilient, parallel, coplanar struts having a zig-zag configuration extending therefrom wherein the zig-zag struts are curved and pass through corresponding slots in the base section to form a continuous, cylindrical hoop. Each zig-zag strut has an amplitude that decreases when the zig-zag strut is placed under tension and an amplitude that increases when the zig-zag strut is unstressed or is placed under compression. Accordingly, each zig-zag strut can be pulled through the respective slot in the base section, but under compression the zig-zag struts assume the larger amplitude and cannot pass through the corresponding slot thereby maintaining the diameter of the stent constant.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel L. Cox
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:32
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/82; A61F2/92; A61F2/93; A61F2/95; A61F2/958; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S623/00; Y10S623/902; Y10S623/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A process for loading a crush resistant stent onto a balloon portion of a catheter, comprising the method steps of: providing a plurality of resilient, substantially parallel zig-zag struts extending from a base section and curved to form a hoop, wherein each zig-zag strut defines a large amplitude when the strut is in an unstretched state and a small amplitude when the strut is in a stretched state; providing a plurality of openings within the base section corresponding to each of the zig-zag struts, each opening having a width that is less than the large amplitude; stretching the struts to obtain the small amplitude; passing the struts through the corresponding openings to form a closed hoop; inserting the balloon portion into the hoop; and releasing the struts so that the struts return to the unstretched state and assume the large amplitude.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A process for loading a crush resistant stent onto a balloon portion of a catheter, comprising the method steps of: providing a plurality of resilient, substantially parallel zig-zag struts extending from a base section and curved to form a hoop, wherein each zig-zag strut defines a large amplitude when the strut is in an unstretched state and a small amplitude when the strut is in a stretched state; providing a plurality of openings within the base section corresponding to each of the zig-zag struts, each opening having a width that is less than the large amplitude; stretching the struts to obtain the small amplitude; passing the struts through the corresponding openings to form a closed hoop; inserting the balloon portion into the hoop; and releasing the struts so that the struts return to the unstretched state and assume the large amplitude.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the process further comprises the step of further stretching the struts to further close the hoop upon the balloon portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the process further comprises the step of curving the plurality of zig-zag struts so that the struts are coplanar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1, wherein each zig-zag strut has a flat cross-section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the process further comprises the step of inflating the balloon.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for loading a crush resistant stent onto a balloon portion of a catheter, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of resilient, zig-zag struts extending from a base section and curved into a hoop, wherein each zig-zag strut defines a first amplitude when the strut is in a less than tensile state and a second amplitude when the strut is in a tensile state; providing a plurality of openings in the base section corresponding to each zig-zag strut, wherein the openings are smaller than the first amplitude; applying a tension to the struts so that they at least partially pass through the corresponding openings in the base section to form a hoop; inserting the balloon portion into the hoop; and at least partially removing the tension to the struts so that the struts are in the less than tensile state.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for loading a crush resistant stent onto a balloon portion of a catheter, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of resilient, zig-zag struts extending from a base section and curved into a hoop, wherein each zig-zag strut defines a first amplitude when the strut is in a less than tensile state and a second amplitude when the strut is in a tensile state; providing a plurality of openings in the base section corresponding to each zig-zag strut, wherein the openings are smaller than the first amplitude; applying a tension to the struts so that they at least partially pass through the corresponding openings in the base section to form a hoop; inserting the balloon portion into the hoop; and at least partially removing the tension to the struts so that the struts are in the less than tensile state.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises the step of providing a retainer disposed on the plurality of zig-zag struts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises the step of winding a terminus of the plurality of zig-zag struts through the retainer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises the step of curling the plurality of zig-zag struts.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the stent includes a shape-memory alloy material.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for loading a crush resistant stent onto a balloon catheter, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of resilient, zig-zag struts extending from a base section and curved into a hoop, wherein each zig-zag strut is defined by an amplitude that varies as the strut is stretched or relaxed; providing a plurality of openings in the base section corresponding to each zig-zag strut, wherein the openings are smaller than the amplitudes of the struts when they are relaxed; stretching the struts at least partially through the corresponding openings in the base section to close the hoop; inserting the balloon catheter into the hoop; and relaxing the struts.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for loading a crush resistant stent onto a balloon catheter, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of resilient, zig-zag struts extending from a base section and curved into a hoop, wherein each zig-zag strut is defined by an amplitude that varies as the strut is stretched or relaxed; providing a plurality of openings in the base section corresponding to each zig-zag strut, wherein the openings are smaller than the amplitudes of the struts when they are relaxed; stretching the struts at least partially through the corresponding openings in the base section to close the hoop; inserting the balloon catheter into the hoop; and relaxing the struts.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of resilient, zig-zag struts are curled.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the amplitudes of the relaxed struts engages the base section.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the stent includes a nickel-titanium alloy.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4553545A
Cited
US4655771B1
Cited
US4655771A
Cited
US4776337A
Cited
US4776337B1
Cited
US4878906A
Cited
US4740207A
Cited
US4800882A
Cited
US4795465A
Cited
US5527337A
Cited
US5192307A
Cited
US4877030A
Cited
US5007926A
Cited
US5100429A
Cited
US5292331A
Cited
US5344426A
Cited
US5242399A
Cited
US5158548A
Cited
US5123917A
Cited
US5551954A
Cited
US5464450A
Cited
US5540713A
Cited
US5354309A
Cited
US5593434A
Cited
US5342387A
Cited
US5383926A
Cited
US5591223A
Cited
US5441515A
Cited
US5569295A
Cited
US5556413A
Cited
US5575816A
Cited
US5549662A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-15 | 2001-12-15 | 2002-06-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-15 | 2005-12-15 | 2006-06-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-15 | 2009-12-15 | 2010-06-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |