Longitudinally flexible stent

Claim 2

A stent for holding open a blood vessel formed of a plurality of triangular cells, each triangular cell comprising: a first loop containing section, the first loop containing section arranged generally in the circumferential direction; a second loop containing section joined to the first loop containing section at a first junction point; and a third loop containing section joined to the first loop containing section at a second junction point and joined to the second loop containing section at a third junction point, wherein the first loop containing section is formed by a portion of a first meander pattern and the second and third loop containing sections are formed by portions of one or more second meander patterns.

Claim 3

A stent according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first loop containing section is relatively adapted to enable radial support, and the second and third loop containing sections are relatively adapted to enable longitudinal flexibility.

Claim 4

A stent according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first loop containing section has wider struts than the second and third loop containing sections.

Claim 5

A stent according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first loop containing section has two loops.

Claim 6

A stent according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second loop containing section has two loops.

Claim 7

A stent according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the third loop containing section has two loops.

Claim 8

A stent according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the stent is made of stainless steel.

Claim 9

A stent according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein at least one of the legs for a loop of the first loop containing section is shorter than other legs for a loop of the first loop containing section.

Claim 10

A stent according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the second and third junction point are circumferentially aligned.

Claim 11

A stent according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein each cell in the stent encompasses the same area.

Claim 12

A stent according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the cell is arranged so that when expanded a length of the cell along a circumference of the stent is longer than a length of a cell along the longitudinal axis of the stent.

Claim 13

A stent according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the stent is made from NiTi.

Claim 14

A stent according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a cell of the stent is symmetrical about a line parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stent.

Claim 15

A stent according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein at least one cell with a larger size is provided to allow access to a side branch lumen.

Claim 16

A stent according to one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the cells are arranged into a plurality of bands, and the cells in one band are larger than the cells in the remaining band so as to provide access to a side branch in a vessel.

Claim 17

A stent according to one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the cells are arranged into a plurality of bands and the cells in at least one band are adapted to have a different radial force than the cells in the remaining bands.

Claim 18

A stent according to one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the cells are arranged into a plurality of bands and the cells in at least one band are adapted to have a different longitudinal flexibility than the cells in the remaining bands.

Claim 19

A stent according to one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the cells are arranged into a plurality of bands and the cells in at least one band are adapted so that upon expansion of the stent the band expands to a diameter which is different than the diameter of the remaining portions of the stent.

Claim 20

A stent according to one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the cells are arranged into a plurality of bands, and the number of cells in at least one band is different than the number of cells in another band.

Claim 21

A stent according to one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the stent is finished in one of the following ways: plating with a radiopaque material, plating with a protective material, embedding with medicine, or covering with a material.

Claim 22

A stent for widening a vessel in the human body comprising: a plurality of first meander patterns; a plurality of second meander patterns intertwined with the first meander patterns to form triangular cells.

Claim 23

A stent for widening a vessel in the human body comprising: a plurality of first meander patterns; a plurality of second meander patterns intertwined with the first meander patterns to form triangular cells, said triangular cells having three sections with loop portions therein and being joined to one another at only three junction points.

Claim 24

A stent according to claim 22 or 23, wherein the first meander patterns are comprised of: even first meander patterns; and odd first meander patterns which are 180E out of phase with the even first meander patterns, the odd first meander patterns occurring between every two even first meander patterns.

Claim 25

A stent according to one of claims 22 to 24, wherein the second meander patterns are comprised of: even second meander patterns; and odd second meander pattern occurring between every two even second meander patterns.

Claim 26

A stent according to one of claims 22 to 25, wherein each of the triangular cells is comprised of a first loop containing section, a second loop containing section, and a third loop containing section.

Claim 27

A stent according to one of claims 22 to 26, wherein the first loop containing section is formed by a portion of a first meander pattern and the second and third loop containing sections are formed by portions of one or more second meander patterns.

Claim 28

A stent according to one of claims 22 to 27, wherein the first loop containing section includes at least one leg of a free loop which is shorter than other legs of loops in the loop containing section.

Claim 29

A stent according to one of claims 22 to 28, wherein the first loop containing section is wider than the second and third loop containing sections.

Claim 30

A stent according to one of claims 22 to 29, wherein the first meander pattern has two loops per period.

Claim 31

A stent according to one of claims 22 to 30, wherein the second meander pattern has four loops per period.

Claim 32

A stent according to one of claims 22 to 31, wherein the first and second meander patterns are substantially orthogonal.

Claim 33

A stent according to one of claims 22 to 32, wherein the first loop containing section has two loops facing toward the interior of the cell.

Claim 34

A stent according to one of claims 22 to 33, wherein the second and third loop containing sections each have two loops.

Claim 35

A stent according to one of claims 22 to 34, wherein the loops of the second and third loop containing sections are adapted to compensate for the tendency of the loops of the first loop containing section to foreshorten when the stent is expanded.

Claim 36

A stent according to one of claims 22 to 35, wherein one of the loops of the first loop section is a free loop which is shorter than the other loop of the first loop section.

Claim 37

A stent according to one of claims 22 to 36, wherein the odd and even second meander portions have portions in common wherein said meanders run in the same direction.

Claim 38

A stent according to one of claims 22 to 37, wherein the first and second meander patterns have portions in common wherein said meander patterns run in the same direction.

Claim 39

A multicellular stent for holding open a lumen, comprising: a plurality of even and odd vertical meander patterns, the odd vertical meander patterns being located between every two even vertical meander patterns and being out of phase with the even vertical meander patterns, a plurality of even and odd horizontal meander patterns, the odd horizontal meander patterns being located between every two even horizontal meander patterns, wherein the vertical meander patterns are intertwined with the horizontal meander patterns to form a plurality of triangular cells.

Claim 40

A multicellular stent for holding open a lumen, comprising: a plurality of even and odd vertical meander patterns, the odd vertical meander patterns being located between every two even vertical meander patterns and being out of phase with the even vertical meander patterns, a plurality of even and odd horizontal meander patterns, the odd horizontal meander patterns being located between every two even horizontal meander patterns, wherein the vertical meander patterns are intertwined with the horizontal meander patterns to form a plurality of triangular cells, said triangular cells having three sections with loop portions therein and being joined to one another at only three junction points.

Claim 41

A multicellular stent according to claim 39 or 40, wherein the triangular cells are formed by a first loop containing section, a second loop containing section connected to the first loop containing section, and a third loop containing section connected to the first and second loop containing section.

Claim 42

A multicellular stent according to one of claims 39 to 41, wherein the first loop containing section is formed from a portion of a vertical meander pattern.

Claim 43

A multicellular stent according to one of claims 39 to 42, wherein the second and third loop containing sections are formed from portions of one or more horizontal meander patterns.

Claim 44

A multicellular stent according to one of claims 39 to 43, wherein members forming the first loop containing section are wider than members forming the second and third loop containing sections.

Claim 45

A multicellular stent according to one of claims 39 to 44, wherein the first loop containing section forms two loops facing toward the interior of the cell.

Claim 46

A multicellular stent according to one of claims 39 to 45, wherein the second loop containing section forms one loop facing toward the interior of the cell.

Claim 47

A multicellular stent according to one of claims 39 to 46, wherein the third loop containing section forms one loop facing toward the interior of the cell.

Claim 48

A multicellular stent according to one of claims 39 to 47, wherein the stent is made of stainless steel.

Claim 49

A multicellular stent according to one of claims 39 to 48, wherein the first loop containing section includes one free loop.

Claim 50

A multicellular stent according to one of claims 39 to 49, wherein one leg of the free loop is shorter than the other leg of the loop.

Claim 51

A multicellular stent according to one of claims 39 to 50, wherein the length of the second loop containing section is equal to the length of the third loop containing section.

Claim 52

A multicellular stent according to one of claims 39 to 51, wherein each triangular cell of the stent encompasses the same area.

Claim 53

A multicellular stent according to one of claims 39 to 52, wherein the width of members forming the second loop containing section and the width of members forming the third loop containing section are the same.

Claim 54

A multicellular stent comprising; a plurality of bands of first cells, each first cell including a first loop disposed generally longitudinally opposite a second loop and a first pair of flexible compensating members joined to the cell sections containing the first and second loop; a plurality of bands of second cells, each second cell including a third loop disposed generally longitudinally opposite a fourth loop and a second pair of flexible members joined to the cell sections containing the third and fourth loops to form a cell, the bands of second cells interspersed with the bands of first cells, wherein the first loop and the second loop are substantially aligned along a longitudinal axis of the stent, and wherein the third loop and the fourth loop are offset along the longitudinal axis.

Claim 55

A multicellular stent according to claim 54 wherein the loops of the cell are wider that the flexible members of the cell so that the loops provide more radial support.

Claim 56

A multicellular stent according to claim 54 or 55 wherein each flexible member of the second pair of flexible members includes: a first portion with a first end and a second end; a second portion with a first end and a second end; a third portion with a first end and a second end; a curved portion with a first area of inflection disposed between the second end of the first portion and the second end of the second portion; and a curved portion with a second area of inflection disposed between the first end of the second portion and the first end of the third portion.

Claim 57

A multicellular stent according to one of claims 54 to 56, wherein each flexible member of the first pair of flexible members includes a flexible arcuate compensating member.

Claim 58

A multicellular stent according to one of claims 54 to 57, wherein the bands of the first cells alternate with the bands of the second cells.

Claim 59

A multicellular stent according to one of claims 54 to 58, wherein the the bands of the cells are chosen so as to produce sections of the stent with increased radial rigidity.

Claim 60

A multicellular stent according to one of claims 54 to 59, wherein the bands of cells at the ends of the stents are adapted to be more longitudinally flexible than the bands of cells in the remainder of the stent.

Claim 61

A multicellular stent according to one of claims 54 to 60, wherein the stent is made from either stainless steel or NiTi.

Claim 62

A multicellular stent comprising: a plurality of bands of square cells, each square cell including a first loop disposed generally longitudinally opposite a second loop, and a first pair of flexible compensating members joined to the legs of the first and second loop; a plurality of bands of triangular cells, each triangular cell comprising a first loop containing section arranged generally in the circumferential direction, a second loop containing section connected to the first loop containing section, and a third loop containing section connected to the first loop containing section and the second loop containing section, wherein the bands of triangular cells are interspersed with the bands of square cells to form the stent.

Claim 63

A multicellular stent according to claim 62, wherein the bands of the square cells alternate with the bands of the triangular cells.

Claim 64

A multicellular stent according to claim 62 or 63, wherein the bands of cells at the ends of the stents are adapted to be more longitudinally flexible than the bands of cells in the remainder of the stent.

Claim 65

A multicellular stent according to one of claims 62 to 64, wherein the first loop containing section has two loops facing the interior of the cell.

Claim 66

A multicellular stent according to one of claims 62 to 65, wherein the second and third loop containing sections each have at least one loop facing the interior of the cell.

Claim 67

A multicellular stent according to one of claims 62 to 66, wherein first and second loop are formed of members which are wider than the pair of flexible compensating members.

Claim 68

A multicellular stent according to one of claims 62 to 67, wherein the first loop is formed of members which are wider than members forming the second and third loop.

Claim 69

A multicellular stent according to one of claims 62 to 68, wherein the first loop containing section has some legs of loops which are shorter than other legs of loops.

Claim 70

An expandable stent comprising a plurality of enclosed flexible spaces, each of the plurality of enclosed flexible spaces including: a) a first member having a first end and a second end; b) a second member having a first end and a second end; c) a third member having a first end and a second end; d) a fourth member having a first end and a second end; the first end of the first member communicating with the first end of the second member, the second end of the second member communicating with the second end of the third member, and the first end of the third member communicating with the first end of the fourth member; e) the first member and the second member with the curved portion at their ends forming a first loop; f) the third member and the fourth member with the curved portion at their ends forming a second loop; g) a fifth member having a first end and a second end; h) a sixth member having a first end and a second end; i) a seventh member having a first end and a second end; j) an eighth member having a first end and a second end; k) a ninth member having a first end and a second end; and l) a tenth member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the fifth member communicating with the second end of the first member, the second end of the fifth member communicating with the second end of the sixth member, the first end of the sixth member communicating with the first end of the seventh member, the second end of the seventh member communicating with the second end of the eighth member, the first end of the eighth member communicating with the first end of the ninth member, the second end of the ninth member communicating with the second end of the tenth member, and the first end of the of the tenth member communicating with the second end of the fourth member; m) the fifth member and the sixth member with the curved portion at their ends forming a third loop; n) the seventh member and the eighth member with the curved portion at their ends forming a fourth loop; and o) the ninth member and the tenth member with the curved portion at their ends forming a fifth loop.

Claim 71

The stent of claim 70, wherein the first member, the third member, the sixth member, the eighth member, and the tenth member have substantially the same angular orientation to the longitudinal axis of the stent and the second member, the fourth member, the fifth member, the seventh member, and the ninth member have substantially the same angular orientation to the longitudinal axis of the stent.

Claim 72

The stent of claim 70 or 71, wherein at least one of the members in at least one of the plurality of spaces has a length that is greater than the length of the other members in that space.

Claim 73

The stent according to one of claims 70 to 72, wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth members in at least one of the plurality of spaces has a length that is longer than the length of at least one of the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth members in that space.

Claim 74

The stent according to one of claims 70 to 73, wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth members in at least one of the plurality of spaces has a length that is about twice the length of at least one of the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth members in that space.

Claim 75

The stent according to one of claims 70 to 74, wherein at least one of the first, second, third and fourth members in at least one of the plurality of spaces has a length that is substantially equal to the length of at least one of the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth members in that space.

Claim 76

The stent according to one of claims 70 to 75, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth members in at least one of the plurality of spaces have a width that is different than the width of the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth members in that space.

Claim 77

The stent according to one of claims 70 to 76, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth members in at least one of the plurality of spaces have a width that is greater than the width of the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth members in that space.

Claim 78

The stent according to one of claims 70 to 77, wherein at least one member in at least one of the plurality of spaces has a width that is greater than the other members in that space.

Claim 79

The stent according to one of claims 70 to 78, wherein at least one member in at least one of the plurality of spaces has a width that is greater than the other members in that space.

Claim 80

The stent according to one of claims 70 to 79, wherein at least that member having the greatest length in that space is joined to an adjacent member which extends in an adjacent space.

Claim 81

The stent according to one of claims 70 to 80, wherein a substantial portion of each of the members is substantially straight.

Claim 82

The stent according to one of claims 70 to 81, wherein the members are comprised of metal.

Claim 83

The stent according to one of claims 70 to 82, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel and nitinol.

Claim 84

The stent according to one of claims 70 to 83, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth members and the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth members are provided with different flexibilities with respect to each other.

Claim 85

The stent according to one of claims 70 to 84, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth members are more flexible than the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth members.

Claim 86

The stent according to one of claims 70 to 85, wherein the fifth, sixth, seventh, eight, ninth, and tenth member patterns are more flexible than the first, second, third, and fourth members.

Claim 87

The stent according to one of claims 70 to 86, wherein at least one portion of at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth members and at least one portion of at least one of the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth members are provided with different flexibilities with respect to each other.

Claim 88

The stent according to one of claims 70 to 87, wherein at least one portion of at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth members is provided with at least one portion that is more flexible than at least one portion of at least one of the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth members.

Claim 89

The stent according to one of claims 70 to 88, wherein at least one portion of at least one of the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth members is provided with at least one portion that is more flexible than at least one portion of at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth members.

Claim 90

The stent according to one of claims 70 to 89, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth members and the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth members are provided with different resistances to radial compression with respect to each other.

Claim 91

The stent according to one of claims 70 to 90, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth members have a greater resistance to radial compression than the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth members.

Claim 92

The stent according to one of claims 70 to 91, wherein the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth members have a greater resistance to radial compression than the first, second, third, and fourth members.

Claim 93

The stent according to one of claims 70 to 92, wherein at least one portion of at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth members and at least one portion of at least one of the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth members are provided with different resistances to radial compression with respect to each other.

Claim 94

The stent according to one of claims 70 to 93, wherein at least one portion of at least one of the plurality of the first, second, third, and fourth members is provided with at least one portion that has a greater resistance to radial compression than at least one portion of at least one of the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth members.

Claim 95

The stent according to one of claims 70 to 94, wherein at least one portion of at least one of the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth members is provided with at least one portion that has a greater resistance to radial compression than at least one portion of at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth members.

Claim 96

A stent comprising a matrix of cells, substantially as depicted in any of Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 or 11.

Claim 97

A stent comprising a matrix of cells, wherein the cells are selected from one or more of the cells substantially as depicted in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 or 11.