Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
An expandable stent for deployment into a vessel having a lumen therein comprising a cylindrical member having a length and having proximal and distal extremities and being formed of a metal having a wall defining a central bore having a longitudinal axis extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity, said cylindrical member having an inside diameter and an outside diameter, said cylindrical member being formed of at least one cylindrical segment, said at least one cylindrical segment having a pattern formed therein which when the stent is expanded is capable of forming a truss formed of serially connected three-sided triangularly-shaped truss members, said pattern including a first sinusoid extending circumferentially through 360° about the longitudinal axis, said first sinusoid being in the form of a plurality of major elements having first and second interconnected struts having respectively first and second lengths forming first and second sides of the truss members and defining open sides therebetween, alternate major elements having therein open sides facing in opposite directions, said pattern also including a plurality of foldable struts disposed within the open sides of the major elements and secured to the first and second struts of the major elements, and when the stent is expanded, being capable of unfolding to form the third sides of the truss members, said truss members being serially connected to form a continuous truss extending circumferentially of the cylindrical member to provide a stent which when expanded has high radial strength.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
245 words
An expandable stent for deployment into a vessel having a lumen therein comprising a cylindrical member having a length and having proximal and distal extremities and being formed of a metal having a wall defining a central bore having a longitudinal axis extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity, said cylindrical member having an inside diameter and an outside diameter, said cylindrical member being formed of at least one cylindrical segment, said at least one cylindrical segment having a pattern formed therein which when the stent is expanded is capable of forming a truss formed of serially connected three-sided triangularly-shaped truss members, said pattern including a first sinusoid extending circumferentially through 360° about the longitudinal axis, said first sinusoid being in the form of a plurality of major elements having first and second interconnected struts having respectively first and second lengths forming first and second sides of the truss members and defining open sides therebetween, alternate major elements having therein open sides facing in opposite directions, said pattern also including a plurality of foldable struts disposed within the open sides of the major elements and secured to the first and second struts of the major elements, and when the stent is expanded, being capable of unfolding to form the third sides of the truss members, said truss members being serially connected to form a continuous truss extending circumferentially of the cylindrical member to provide a stent which when expanded has high radial strength.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
An expandable stent as in claim 1 wherein the stent is comprised of a plurality of segments and further including expansile interconnection means for interconnecting the segments so that as the segments are expanded and shrinkage occurs, the expansile interconnection means expands to accommodate the shrinkage so that there is substantially no change in length of the stent during expansion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
An expandable stent as in claim 2 wherein said expansile interconnection means is in the form of folded links.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
An expandable stent as in claim 3 wherein said folded links are S-shaped.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
An expandable stent as in claim 1 wherein said major elements are substantially U-shaped.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
An expandable stent as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of folded struts are in the form of minor elements having first and second interconnected legs having respectively first and second lengths.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
An expandable stent as in claim 1 wherein said minor elements are substantially U-shaped and form a second sinusoid.