US6190406B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Intravascular stent having tapered struts
Assignee: Nitnol Dev Corp
•
Filing: 1999-02-02
•
Granted: 2001-02-20
•
Expires: 2019-02-02
Abstract
Abstract In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a stent, preferably a self-expanding Nitinol stent, for insertion into a vessel of a patient. The stent is made from a tubular member a thickness, front and back open ends, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The member has a first smaller diameter for insertion into a vessel, and a second larger diameter for deployment into a vessel. The tubular member has a plurality of adjacent hoops extending between its front and back ends. The hoops are formed of a plurality of longitudinal struts, each having opposing ends and a center therebetween. The ends of the struts are shaped to form a plurality of loops which connect adjacent struts at the ends of the struts. The member further includes a plurality of bridges connecting adjacent hoops to one another. Each of the struts has a width which is greater at its ends than at its center. Preferably, the width continuously tapers from a greater width at the ends to a smaller width at the centers.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Duerig
- 👤 Janet Burpee
- 👤 Mark Mathis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:41
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/82; A61F2/86; A61F2/90; A61F2/91; A61F2/915; A61F2002/91533; A61F2002/9155; A61F2002/91558; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0014; A61F2250/0036
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A stent for insertion into a vessel of a patient, said stent comprising: a) a tubular member having a thickness and having front and back open ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said member having a first smaller diameter for insertion into said vessel, and a second larger diameter for deployment into said vessel; and b) said tubular member comprising a plurality of adjacent hoops extending between said front and back ends, said hoops comprising a plurality of longitudinal struts each having opposing ends and a center therebetween, said ends of said struts are shaped to form a plurality of loops connecting adjacent struts at said ends of said struts, said member further comprising a plurality of bridges connecting adjacent hoops to one another, said struts having a width measured in an axial direction, said width of said struts being greater at its ends than at its center and wherein said width of said struts at a given point along their center varies in proportion to the cube root of the distance from an end of said strut closest to said given point.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A stent for insertion into a vessel of a patient, said stent comprising: a) a tubular member having a thickness and having front and back open ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said member having a first smaller diameter for insertion into said vessel, and a second larger diameter for deployment into said vessel; and b) said tubular member comprising a plurality of adjacent hoops extending between said front and back ends, said hoops comprising a plurality of longitudinal struts each having opposing ends and a center therebetween, said ends of said struts are shaped to form a plurality of loops connecting adjacent struts at said ends of said struts, said member further comprising a plurality of bridges connecting adjacent hoops to one another, said struts having a width measured in an axial direction, said width of said struts being greater at its ends than at its center and wherein said width of said struts at a given point along their center varies in proportion to the cube root of the distance from an end of said strut closest to said given point.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The stent according to claim 1 wherein said struts continuously taper from a greater width at its ends to a smaller width at said center.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The stent according to claim 1 wherein said stent is a self-expanding stent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stent according to claim 3 wherein said stent is made from a Nickel Titanium alloy which exhibits superelastic properties at body temperature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The stent according to claim 4 wherein said alloy comprises from about 50.5 percent to about 60 percent Nickel and the remainder comprising Titanium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The stent according to claim 1 wherein said maximum width of said struts are less than said thickness of said tubular member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The stent according to claim 2 wherein said width of said struts at a given point along its center varies in proportion to the cube root of its distance from an end of said strut that said point is closest to.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
165 words
A self-expanding stent for insertion into a vessel of a patient, said stent comprising: a) a tubular member made from an elastic material, said tubular material having a thickness and having front and back open ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said member having a first smaller diameter for insertion into said vessel, and a second larger diameter for deployment into said vessel; and b) said tubular member comprising a plurality of adjacent hoops extending between said front and back ends, said hoops comprising a plurality of longitudinal struts each having opposing ends and a center therebetween, said ends of said struts are shaped to form a plurality of loops connecting adjacent struts at said ends of said struts, said member further comprising a plurality of bridges connecting adjacent hoops to one another, said struts having a width measured in an axial direction, said width of said struts continuously taper from a greater width at said ends to a smaller width at said centers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
165 words
A self-expanding stent for insertion into a vessel of a patient, said stent comprising: a) a tubular member made from an elastic material, said tubular material having a thickness and having front and back open ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said member having a first smaller diameter for insertion into said vessel, and a second larger diameter for deployment into said vessel; and b) said tubular member comprising a plurality of adjacent hoops extending between said front and back ends, said hoops comprising a plurality of longitudinal struts each having opposing ends and a center therebetween, said ends of said struts are shaped to form a plurality of loops connecting adjacent struts at said ends of said struts, said member further comprising a plurality of bridges connecting adjacent hoops to one another, said struts having a width measured in an axial direction, said width of said struts continuously taper from a greater width at said ends to a smaller width at said centers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stent according to claim 8 wherein said stent is made from a Nickel Titanium alloy which exhibits superelastic properties at body temperature.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The stent according to claim 9 wherein said alloy comprises from about 50.5 percent to about 60 percent Nickel and the remainder comprising Titanium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The stent according to claim 8 wherein said maximum width of said struts are less than said thickness of said tubular member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The stent according to claim 8 wherein said width of any strut at a given point along its center varies in proportion to the cube root of its distance from an end of said strut that said point is closest to.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
192 words
A stent for insertion into a vessel of a patient, said stent comprising: a) a tubular member having a thickness and having front and back open ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said member having a first smaller diameter for insertion into said vessel, and a second larger diameter for deployment into said vessel; and b) said tubular member comprising a plurality of adjacent hoops extending between said front and back ends, said hoops comprising a plurality of longitudinal struts each having opposing ends and a center therebetween, said ends of said struts are shaped to form a plurality of loops connecting adjacent struts at said ends of said struts, said member further comprising a plurality of bridges connecting adjacent hoops to one another, said struts having a width measured in an axial direction, said width of said struts continuously taper from a greater width at said ends to a smaller width at said centers such that a width of any strut at a given point along its center varies in proportion to the cube root of its distance from an end of said strut that said point is closest to.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
192 words
A stent for insertion into a vessel of a patient, said stent comprising: a) a tubular member having a thickness and having front and back open ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said member having a first smaller diameter for insertion into said vessel, and a second larger diameter for deployment into said vessel; and b) said tubular member comprising a plurality of adjacent hoops extending between said front and back ends, said hoops comprising a plurality of longitudinal struts each having opposing ends and a center therebetween, said ends of said struts are shaped to form a plurality of loops connecting adjacent struts at said ends of said struts, said member further comprising a plurality of bridges connecting adjacent hoops to one another, said struts having a width measured in an axial direction, said width of said struts continuously taper from a greater width at said ends to a smaller width at said centers such that a width of any strut at a given point along its center varies in proportion to the cube root of its distance from an end of said strut that said point is closest to.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stent according to claim 13 wherein said stent is made from a Nickel Titanium alloy which exhibits superelastic properties at body temperature.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The stent according to claim 14 wherein said alloy comprises from about 50.5 percent to about 60 percent Nickel and the remainder comprising Titanium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The stent according to claim 13 wherein said maximum width of said struts are less than said thickness of said tubular member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4925445A
Cited
US5104404A
Cited
WO1996026689A1
Cited
US5876449A
Cited
US5776161A
Cited
US5830179A
Cited
US6042606A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-02-20 | 2004-08-21 | 2005-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-02-20 | 2008-08-21 | 2009-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-02-20 | 2012-08-21 | 2013-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |