Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
A thin-walled, cylindrical stent formed from a single piece of metal, the stent having a nominal diameter when fully radially deployed into a vessel of the human body and having a longitudinal direction parallel to the axial axis of the cylindrical stent, the stent further comprising a multiplicity of sets of strut members with each set of strut members forming a circumferentially extending closed ring structure with adjacent sets of strut members being coupled each to the other by structures extending generally in the longitudinal direction, said stent having a proximal end, a distal end and a center section located approximately half-way between said proximal and distal ends, said stent having two types of circumferentially extending sets of strut members, a first type of set of strut members and a second type of set of strut members, the first type of set of strut members having a shorter total circumferential length as compared to the total circumferential length of the second type of set of strut members, the stent when radially deployed to its nominal diameter having the first type of set of strut members having greater radial rigidity as compared to the second type of set of strut members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
A thin-walled, cylindrical stent formed from a single piece of metal, the stent having a nominal diameter when fully radially deployed into a vessel of the human body and having a longitudinal direction parallel to the axial axis of the cylindrical stent, the stent further comprising a multiplicity of sets of strut members with each set of strut members forming a circumferentially extending closed ring structure with adjacent sets of strut members being coupled each to the other by structures extending generally in the longitudinal direction, said stent having a proximal end, a distal end and a center section located approximately half-way between said proximal and distal ends, said stent having two types of circumferentially extending sets of strut members, a first type of set of strut members and a second type of set of strut members, the first type of set of strut members having a shorter total circumferential length as compared to the total circumferential length of the second type of set of strut members, the stent when radially deployed to its nominal diameter having the first type of set of strut members having greater radial rigidity as compared to the second type of set of strut members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The stent as recited in claim 1 where said first type of set of strut members has a length in the longitudinal direction that is less than the length in the longitudinal direction of said second type of set of strut members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The stent as recited in claim 1 where said sets of strut members are coupled each to the other by at least two substantially longitudinally extending undulating members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stent as recited by claim 3 where the substantially longitudinally extending undulating members are formed in an S-shaped contour.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stent as recited by claim 3 where the substantially longitudinally extending undulating members are formed in a U-shaped contour.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The stent as recited by claim 1 where there is at least one of the first type of set of strut members situated at said proximal end of the stent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The stent as recited by claim 6 where there is at least one of the first type of set of strut members situated at said distal end of the stent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The stent as recited by claim 1 where there is at least one of the first type of set of strut members situated at said distal end of the stent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The stent as recited by claim 1 where there is at least one of the first type of set of strut members at said center section of the stent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The stent as recited by claim 7 where there is at least one of the first type of set of strut members situated at said center section of the stent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The stent as recited in claim 1 where said first type of set of strut members has an average dimensional strut width of its strut members that is greater than the average dimensional strut width of the strut members of said second type of set of strut members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The stent as recited in claim 1 where at least two adjacent sets of strut members are coupled each to the other by at least two substantially longitudinally extending linearly directed "H" cross bars.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The stent as recited in claim 1 where said stent is radially expanded responsive to inflation of a balloon onto which balloon the stent is mounted.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The stent as recited in claim 1 where said stent is a radially self-expanding stent.