US6203569B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible stent
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1997-06-27
•
Granted: 2001-03-20
•
Expires: 2017-06-27
Abstract
Abstract A stent is disclosed which comprises generally of ring having, in the preferred embodiment, crossties that have flexibility by having at least one bend. The rings themselves have predetermined stress-relieving points to predispose, by stress relief, particular segments of each ring to bend upon application of an expansion force such as by a balloon or by other means. In the preferred embodiment, the individual rings have notches, reducing the cross-sectional areas at particular locations adjacent reversing bends such that upon radial expansion, bending occurs at these reduced cross-sectional areas to prevent stress from accumulating at the reversing bends.
Inventors
- 👤 Bandula Wijay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:43
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/82; A61F2/86; A61F2/90; A61F2/91; A61F2/915; A61F2002/91533; A61F2002/9155; A61F2002/91558; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0004; A61F2230/0013; A61F2230/0028; A61F2230/0054; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0014; A61F2250/0036; A61F2250/0058; A61F2250/0071
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A stent comprising: a plurality of rings arranged in general alignment to define a cylindrical shape, each ring comprises a singular elongated wire member having discrete reversing bends which do not intersect with other reversing bends and at least two cross-sectional areas identified by at least one cross-sectional change location, said wire member forming an undulating pattern; at least one crosstie connecting adjacent rings said crosstie disposed in general alignment with a longitudinal axis defined by said rings, said crosstie having at least one bend formed therein; the cross-sectional area of said wire member changes adjacent at least one of said reversing bends; said wire member which comprises each said rings, when expanded radially outwardly, bends at said cross-sectional change location adjacent said reversing bends; and said reversing bends remain generally aligned to said cylindrical shape defined by said rings after radial expansion due to bending at said cross-sectional change locations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
A stent comprising: a plurality of rings arranged in general alignment to define a cylindrical shape, each ring comprises a singular elongated wire member having discrete reversing bends which do not intersect with other reversing bends and at least two cross-sectional areas identified by at least one cross-sectional change location, said wire member forming an undulating pattern; at least one crosstie connecting adjacent rings said crosstie disposed in general alignment with a longitudinal axis defined by said rings, said crosstie having at least one bend formed therein; the cross-sectional area of said wire member changes adjacent at least one of said reversing bends; said wire member which comprises each said rings, when expanded radially outwardly, bends at said cross-sectional change location adjacent said reversing bends; and said reversing bends remain generally aligned to said cylindrical shape defined by said rings after radial expansion due to bending at said cross-sectional change locations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
166 words
A stent, comprising: a plurality of rings arranged in general alignment to define a cylindrical shape, each ring comprises a singular elongated wire member having discrete reversing bends which do not intersect with other reversing bends, and at least two cross-sectional areas defined by at least one cross-sectional change location, said wire member forming an undulating pattern; at least one crosstie connecting adjacent rings said crosstie disposed in general alignment with a longitudinal axis defined by said rings, said crosstie having at least one bend formed therein; said wire member having at least one straight section between said reversing bends; the cross sectional area of said wire member changes in said straight section and adjacent said reversing bends; said wire member which comprises each said rings, when expanded radially outwardly, bends at said cross-sectional change location adjacent said reversing bends; and said reversing bends remain generally aligned to said cylindrical shape defined by said rings after radial expansion due to bending at said cross-sectional change locations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
166 words
A stent, comprising: a plurality of rings arranged in general alignment to define a cylindrical shape, each ring comprises a singular elongated wire member having discrete reversing bends which do not intersect with other reversing bends, and at least two cross-sectional areas defined by at least one cross-sectional change location, said wire member forming an undulating pattern; at least one crosstie connecting adjacent rings said crosstie disposed in general alignment with a longitudinal axis defined by said rings, said crosstie having at least one bend formed therein; said wire member having at least one straight section between said reversing bends; the cross sectional area of said wire member changes in said straight section and adjacent said reversing bends; said wire member which comprises each said rings, when expanded radially outwardly, bends at said cross-sectional change location adjacent said reversing bends; and said reversing bends remain generally aligned to said cylindrical shape defined by said rings after radial expansion due to bending at said cross-sectional change locations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
115 words
A stent, comprising: a plurality of rings arranged in general alignment to define a cylindrical shape, each ring comprises a singular elongated wire member having discrete reversing bends which do not intersect with other reversing bends, said wire member forming an undulating pattern, said wire member having at least one cross-sectional area; at least one crosstie connecting adjacent rings said crosstie disposed in general alignment with a longitudinal axis defined by said rings, said crosstie having at least one bend formed therein; the wire member is formed having a notch wherein the cross-sectional area of the wire member changes at a notch location; said notch is located adjacent at least one of said reversing bends.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
115 words
A stent, comprising: a plurality of rings arranged in general alignment to define a cylindrical shape, each ring comprises a singular elongated wire member having discrete reversing bends which do not intersect with other reversing bends, said wire member forming an undulating pattern, said wire member having at least one cross-sectional area; at least one crosstie connecting adjacent rings said crosstie disposed in general alignment with a longitudinal axis defined by said rings, said crosstie having at least one bend formed therein; the wire member is formed having a notch wherein the cross-sectional area of the wire member changes at a notch location; said notch is located adjacent at least one of said reversing bends.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The stent of claim 3 , wherein: said change in cross-section is accomplished by opposed notches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
A stent, comprising: a plurality of rings arranged in general alignment to define a cylindrical shape, each ring comprises a singular elongated wire member having reversing bends forming an undulating pattern; at least one crosstie connecting adjacent rings wherein said crosstie is disposed in general alignment with a longitudinal axis defined by said rings; and said wire member is formed having a notch adjacent at least one of said reversing bends which defines a change in cross-sectional area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
78 words
A stent, comprising: a plurality of rings arranged in general alignment to define a cylindrical shape, each ring comprises a singular elongated wire member having reversing bends forming an undulating pattern; at least one crosstie connecting adjacent rings wherein said crosstie is disposed in general alignment with a longitudinal axis defined by said rings; and said wire member is formed having a notch adjacent at least one of said reversing bends which defines a change in cross-sectional area.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The stent of claim 5 , wherein: said change in cross-sectional area is accomplished by opposed notches.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
129 words
A stent, comprising: a plurality of rings arranged in general alignment to define a cylindrical shape, each ring comprises a singular elongated wire member having discrete reversing bends which do not intersect with other reversing bends, said wire member forming an undulating pattern; and having at least two cross-sectional areas identified by at least one cross-sectional change location; and at least one cross-tie having said connecting adjacent rings said crosstie disposed in general alignment with a longitudinal axis defined by said rings, said crosstie having at least one bend formed between said ends to allow said crosstie to flex as said rings expand while remaining within the confines of said cylindrical shape; and the cross-sectional area of said wire member changes adjacent at least one of said reversing bends.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
129 words
A stent, comprising: a plurality of rings arranged in general alignment to define a cylindrical shape, each ring comprises a singular elongated wire member having discrete reversing bends which do not intersect with other reversing bends, said wire member forming an undulating pattern; and having at least two cross-sectional areas identified by at least one cross-sectional change location; and at least one cross-tie having said connecting adjacent rings said crosstie disposed in general alignment with a longitudinal axis defined by said rings, said crosstie having at least one bend formed between said ends to allow said crosstie to flex as said rings expand while remaining within the confines of said cylindrical shape; and the cross-sectional area of said wire member changes adjacent at least one of said reversing bends.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The stent of claim 7 , wherein: said wire member changes cross-section adjacent each said reversing bend.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stent of claim 8 , wherein: said wire member changes cross-section on both sides of each said reversing bend.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The stent of claim 7 , wherein: said wire member which comprises said rings, when said rings are expanded radially outwardly, bends at said cross-sectional change location adjacent said reversing bends.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The stent of claim 1 , further comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping crossties each having at least two bends.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The stent of claim 11 , wherein: said bends define at least two slope changes in said crossties.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The stent of claim 12 , wherein: each crosstie connects a reversing bend in one of said rings to the next adjacent circumferentially offset reversing bend on an adjacent ring.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The stent of claim 1 , wherein: said at least one crosstie comprises at least two reversing bends located remotely from said end of said crosstie.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The stent of claim 7 wherein: said at least one crosstie comprises at least two reversing bends located remotely from said ends of said crosstie; and said bends define a turn of no less than about 90°.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The stent of claim 15 , wherein: said crosstie having a first end offset circumferentially from a second end.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The stent of claim 15 , wherein that portion of said crossties extending between said first and second ends and up to said bends of said crosstie are in substantial longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical shape.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The stent of claim 3 , wherein: said wire-like member has straight sections between said reversing bends; said straight sections have a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area through said reversing bends.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
109 words
A stent, comprising: a plurality of rings arranged in general alignment to define a cylindrical shape, each ring comprises a singular elongated wire member having discrete reversing bends which do not intersect with other reversing bends; said wire member forming an undulating pattern and having at least one cross-section; at least one crosstie connecting adjacent rings said crosstie disposed in general alignment with a longitudinal axis defined by said rings, said crosstie having at least one bend formed therein; and said wire member having at least one straight section between said reversing bends; the cross-section of said wire member changes in said straight section and adjacent said reversing bends.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
109 words
A stent, comprising: a plurality of rings arranged in general alignment to define a cylindrical shape, each ring comprises a singular elongated wire member having discrete reversing bends which do not intersect with other reversing bends; said wire member forming an undulating pattern and having at least one cross-section; at least one crosstie connecting adjacent rings said crosstie disposed in general alignment with a longitudinal axis defined by said rings, said crosstie having at least one bend formed therein; and said wire member having at least one straight section between said reversing bends; the cross-section of said wire member changes in said straight section and adjacent said reversing bends.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The stent of claim 9 , wherein: said straight section has a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area through an adjacent said reverse bend.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The stent of claim 19 , wherein: said wire member changes cross-section adjacent each said reversing bend.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stent of claim 19 , wherein: said wire member changes cross-section on both sides of each said reversing bend.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
The stent of claim 19 , wherein: said wire member which comprises said rings, when said rings are expanded radially outwardly, bends at said cross-sectional change location adjacent said reversing bends.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
A stent of claim 19 , further comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping crossties each having at least two bends.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The stent of claim 24 , wherein: said bends define at least two slope changes in said crossties.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
The stent of claim 25 , wherein: each crosstie connects a reversing bend in one of said rings to the next adjacent circumferentially offset reversing bend on an adjacent ring.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-03-19 | 2004-09-18 | 2005-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-19 | 2008-09-18 | 2009-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-19 | 2012-09-18 | 2013-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |