Tubular stent consists of non-parallel expansion struts and contralaterally attached diagonal connectors

Claim 2

An intra-luminal vascular stent in a non-expanded state with a longitudinal axis, comprising: a plurality of expansion strut pairs forming a first expansion column, each of an expansion strut pair including a stair-step expansion strut, a straight-line expansion strut and a joining strut coupling an end of the strut pair forming a cell slot, each of the expansion strut pair having three longitudinal axes that are aligned in a non-parallel relationship to the stent longitudinal axis; a plurality of expansion strut pairs forming a second expansion column, each of an expansion strut pair including a straight-line expansion strut, a stair-step expansion strut and a joining strut coupling an end of the strut pair forming a cell slot, each of the expansion strut pair having three longitudinal axes that are aligned in a non-parallel relationship to the stent longitudinal axis; and a plurality of serial connecting struts forming a first serial connecting strut column and including a first serial connecting strut, the first serial connecting strut column coupling the first expansion column to the second expansion column.

Claim 3

The stent of claim 1 , wherein the first serial connecting strut includes a proximal portion including a proximal stem and a linear section, a distal portion including a distal stem and a linear section, and an intermediate section that couples the proximal and distal portions.

Claim 4

The stent of claim 2 , wherein the intermediate section of the first serial connecting strut includes a proximal linear section and a distal linear section.

Claim 5

The stent of claim 3 , wherein in the first serial connecting strut the linear section of the proximal portion has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent.

Claim 6

The stent of claim 4 , wherein in the first serial connecting strut, the linear section of the distal portion has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the straight-line expansion strut of the second expansion column.

Claim 7

The stent of claim 3 , wherein the proximal stem of the first connecting strut is contralaterally coupled to a side of distal portion of the stair-step expansion strut of the first expansion column, and the distal stem of the first serial connecting strut is contralaterally coupled to a side of a proximal portion of the straight-line expansion strut of the second expansion column.

Claim 8

The stent of claim 6 , wherein the proximal stem of the first connecting strut is contralaterally coupled to a second side of a distal portion of the stair-step expansion strut of the first expansion column, and the distal stem of the first serial connecting strut is contralaterally coupled to a first side of a proximal portion of the straight-line expansion strut of the second expansion column.

Claim 9

The stent of claim 6 , wherein the proximal stem of the first connecting strut is contralaterally coupled to a second side of a distal portion of the stair-step expansion strut of the first expansion column, and the distal stem of the first serial connecting strut is contralaterally coupled to a first side of a proximal portion of the stair-step expansion strut of the second expansion column.

Claim 10

The stent of claim 6 , wherein the proximal stem of the first connecting strut is contralaterally coupled to a second side of a distal portion of the straight-line expansion strut of the first expansion column, and the distal stem of the first serial connecting strut is contralaterally coupled to a proximal portion of a first side of the straight-line expansion strut of the second expansion column.

Claim 11

The stent of claim 3 , wherein the intermediate portion of the first serial connecting strut diagonally couples the proximal and distal portions of the first serial connecting strut.

Claim 12

The stent of claim 3 , wherein the intermediate portion of the first serial connecting strut diagonally couples a distal portion of the stair-step expansion strut of the first expansion column to a proximal portion of the straight-line expansion strut of the second expansion column.

Claim 13

The stent of claim 3 , wherein the intermediate portion of the first serial connecting strut diagonally couples a distal portion of the stair-step expansion strut of the first expansion column to a proximal portion of the stair-step strut of the second expansion column.

Claim 14

The stent of claim 3 , wherein the first serial connecting strut contralaterally couples to a side of a distal portion of the stair-step expansion strut of the first expansion column to a side of a proximal portion of the straight-line expansion strut of the second expansion column.

Claim 15

The stent of claim 3 , wherein the first serial connecting strut contralaterally couples to a side of a distal portion of the stair-step expansion strut of the first expansion column to a side of a proximal portion of the stair-step expansion strut of the second expansion column.

Claim 16

The stent of claim 3 , wherein the first serial connecting strut contralaterally couples to a side of a distal portion of the straight-line expansion strut of the first expansion column to a side of a proximal portion of the straight-line expansion strut of the second expansion column.

Claim 17

The stent of claim 3 , wherein the proximal stem of the first connecting strut is contralaterally coupled to a side of distal portion of the stair-step expansion strut of the first expansion column, and the distal stem of the first serial connecting strut is contralaterally coupled to a side of a proximal portion of the stair-step expansion strut of the second expansion column.

Claim 18

The stent of claim 3 , wherein the proximal stem of the first connecting strut is contralaterally coupled to a side of distal portion of the straight-line expansion strut of the first expansion column, and the distal stem of the first serial connecting strut is contralaterally coupled to a side of a proximal portion the straight-line expansion strut of the second expansion column.

Claim 19

The stent of claim 1 , wherein the first expansion column and the second expansion column are coupled by the first serial connecting strut column to form a plurality of asymmetric cells.

Claim 20

The stent of claim 18 , wherein each of an asymmetric cell includes a proximal cell slot formed in the first expansion column and a distal cell slot formed in the second expansion column.

Claim 21

The stent of claim 19 , wherein the proximal cell slot has a longitudinal axis that is non-parallel to a longitudinal axis of the distal cell slot.

Claim 22

The stent of claim 20 , wherein in the second expansion column a longitudinal axis of the stair-step expansion strut has a first and a second longitudinal axis each being parallel to a longitudinal axis of the straight-line expansion strut.

Claim 23

The stent of claim 19 , wherein the axis of the proximal slot and the axis of the distal slot are non-parallel to each other and are not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent.

Claim 24

The stent of claim 1 , wherein in the first expansion column a longitudinal axes of the stair-step expansion strut has a first and a second longitudinal axis each being parallel to a longitudinal axis of the straight-line expansion strut.

Claim 25

The stent of claim 23 , wherein the longitudinal axes of the expansion struts in the first expansion column are non-parallel to the longitudinal axes of the expansion struts in the second expansion column.

Claim 26

The stent of claim 1 , wherein the cell slots in the first and second expansion columns are asymmetric cell slots.

Claim 27

The stent of claim 1 , wherein in the first expansion column a longitudinal axes of the stair-step expansion strut has a first and a second longitudinal axis each being non-parallel to a longitudinal axis of the straight-line expansion strut.

Claim 28

An intra-luminal vascular stent in a non-expanded state with a longitudinal axis, comprising: a plurality of expansion strut pairs forming a first expansion column, each of an expansion strut pair including a stair-step expansion strut, a straight-line expansion strut and joining strut coupling an end of the strut pair forming a cell slot, each of the expansion strut pair having three longitudinal axes that are aligned in a non-parallel relationship to the stent longitudinal axis; a plurality of expansion strut pairs forming a second expansion column, each of an expansion strut pair including a straight-line expansion strut, a stair-step expansion strut and a joining strut coupling an end of the strut pair forming a cell slot, each of the expansion strut pair having three longitudinal axes that are aligned in a non-parallel relationship to the stent longitudinal axis; a first serial connecting strut column formed of a plurality of serial connecting struts and including a first serial connecting strut, the first serial connecting strut column coupling the first expansion column to the second expansion column; a plurality of expansion strut pairs forming a third expansion column, each of an expansion strut pair including a stair-step expansion strut, a straight-line expansion strut and joining strut coupling an end of the strut pair forming a cell slot, each of the expansion strut pair having three longitudinal axes that are aligned in a non-parallel relationship to the stent longitudinal axis; and a plurality of serial connecting struts forming a second serial connecting strut column and including a second serial connecting strut, the second serial connecting strut column coupling the second expansion column to the third expansion column.

Claim 29

An intra-luminal vascular stent in a non-expanded state with a longitudinal axis, comprising: a plurality of expansion strut pairs forming a first expansion column, each of an expansion strut pair including a stair-step expansion strut, a straight-line expansion strut and joining strut coupling an end of the strut pair forming a cell slot, each of the expansion strut pair having three longitudinal axes that are aligned in a non-parallel relationship to the stent longitudinal axis; a plurality of expansion strut pairs forming a second expansion column, each of an expansion strut pair including a straight-line expansion strut, a stair-step expansion strut and a joining strut coupling an end of the strut pair forming a cell slot, each of the expansion strut pair having three longitudinal axes that are aligned in a non-parallel relationship to the stent longitudinal axis; a first serial connecting strut column formed of a plurality of serial connecting struts and including a first serial connecting strut, the first serial connecting strut column coupling the first expansion column to the second expansion column; a plurality of expansion strut pairs forming a third expansion column, each of an expansion strut pair including a stair-step expansion strut, a straight-line expansion strut and joining strut coupling an end of the strut pair forming a cell slot, each of the expansion strut pair having three longitudinal axes that are aligned in a non-parallel relationship to the stent longitudinal axis; and a plurality of serial connecting struts forming a second serial connecting strut column and including a second serial connecting strut, the second serial connecting strut column coupling the second expansion column to the third expansion column.

Claim 30

The stent of claim 27 , wherein the first and second expansion columns and the first serial connecting strut column form a first set of asymmetric cells.

Claim 31

The stent of claim 28 , wherein the second and third expansion columns and the second serial connecting strut column form a second set of asymmetric cells.

Claim 32

The stent of claim 29 , wherein each of an asymmetric cell in the first set includes a proximal slot formed between a pair of adjacent expansion struts in the first expansion column and a distal slot formed between a pair of adjacent expansion struts in the second expansion column, and each of an asymmetric cell in the second set includes a proximal slot formed between a pair of adjacent expansion struts in the second expansion column and a distal slot formed between a pair of adjacent expansion struts in the third expansion column.

Claim 33

The stent of claim 30 , wherein in an asymmetric cell each proximal cell slot has a longitudinal axis that is non-parallel to a longitudinal axis of the distal cell slot.

Claim 34

The stent of claim 31 , wherein in the third expansion column a longitudinal axis of the stair-step expansion strut has a first and a second longitudinal axis each being parallel to a longitudinal axis of the straight-line expansion strut.

Claim 35

The stent of claim 32 , wherein the longitudinal axes of the expansion struts in the second expansion column are non-parallel to the longitudinal axes of the expansion struts in the third expansion column.

Claim 36

The stent of claim 27 , wherein in the second expansion column a longitudinal axes of the stair-step expansion strut has a first and a second longitudinal axis each being non-parallel to a longitudinal axis of the straight-line expansion strut.

Claim 37

The stent of claim 34 , wherein the second serial connecting strut includes a proximal portion including a proximal stem and a linear section, a distal portion including a distal stem and a linear section, and an intermediate section that couples the proximal and distal portions.

Claim 38

The stent of claim 35 , wherein in the second serial connecting strut, the linear section of the proximal portion has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent.

Claim 39

The stent of claim 36 , wherein in the second serial connecting strut, the linear section of the distal portion has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the straight-line expansion strut of the second expansion column.

Claim 40

The stent of claim 35 , wherein the intermediate section of the second serial connecting strut includes a proximal linear section and a distal linear section.

Claim 41

The stent of claim 35 , wherein in the second serial connecting strut column, the intermediate portion of the second serial connecting strut diagonally couples the proximal and distal portions of the first serial connecting strut.

Claim 42

The stent of claim 35 , wherein the intermediate portion of the second serial connecting strut diagonally couples a side of a distal portion of the stair-step expansion strut of the second expansion column to a side of a proximal portion of the straight-line expansion strut of the third expansion column.

Claim 43

The stent of claim 35 , wherein the intermediate portion of the second serial connecting strut diagonally couples a side of a distal portion of the stair-step expansion strut of the second expansion column to a side of a proximal portion of the stair-step strut of the third expansion column.

Claim 44

The stent of claim 35 , wherein the second serial connecting strut contralaterally couples a side of a distal portion of the stair-step expansion strut of the second expansion column to a side of a proximal portion of the straight-line expansion strut of the third expansion column.

Claim 45

The stent of claim 35 , wherein the second serial connecting strut contralaterally couples a side of a distal portion of the stair-step expansion strut of the second expansion column to a side of a proximal portion of the stair-step expansion strut of the third expansion column.

Claim 46

The stent of claim 35 , wherein the second serial connecting strut contralaterally couples a side of a distal portion of the straight-line expansion strut of the second expansion column to a side of a proximal portion of the straight-line expansion strut of the third expansion column.

Claim 47

The stent of claim 35 , wherein the proximal stem of the second serial connecting strut is contralaterally coupled to a side of distal portion of the stair-step expansion strut of the second expansion column, and the distal stem of the second serial connecting strut is contralaterally coupled to side of a proximal portion of the straight-line expansion strut of the third expansion column.

Claim 48

The stent of claim 35 , wherein the proximal stem of the second serial connecting strut is contralaterally coupled to a side of a distal portion of the stair-step expansion strut of the second expansion column, and the distal stem of the second serial connecting strut is contralaterally coupled to a side of a proximal portion of the stair-step expansion strut of the third expansion column.

Claim 49

The stent of claim 35 , wherein the proximal stem of the second serial connecting strut is contralaterally coupled to a side of a distal portion of the straight-line expansion strut of the second expansion column, and the distal stem of the second serial connecting strut is contralaterally coupled to a side of proximal portion the straight-line expansion strut of the third expansion column.

Claim 50

The stent of claim 35 , wherein the proximal stem of the second serial connecting strut is contralaterally coupled to a second side of a distal portion of the stair-step expansion strut of the first expansion column, and the distal stem of the second serial connecting strut is contralaterally coupled to a first side of a proximal portion of the straight-line expansion strut of the third expansion column.

Claim 51

The stent of claim 35 , wherein the proximal stem of the second connecting strut is contralaterally coupled to a second side of a distal portion of the stair-step expansion strut of the second expansion column, and the distal stem of the second serial connecting strut is contralaterally coupled to a first side of a proximal portion of the stair-step expansion strut of the third expansion column.

Claim 52

The stent of claim 35 , wherein the proximal stem of the second connecting strut is contralaterally coupled to a second side of a distal portion of the straight-line expansion strut of the second expansion column, and the distal stem of the second serial connecting strut is contralaterally coupled to a proximal portion of a first side of the straight-line expansion strut of the third expansion column.

Claim 53

The stent of claim 27 , wherein in the second expansion column a longitudinal axes of the stair-step expansion strut has a first and a second longitudinal axis each being parallel to a longitudinal axis of the straight-line expansion strut.

Claim 54

An intra-luminal vascular stent in a non-expanded state with a longitudinal axis, comprising: a plurality of expansion strut pairs forming a first expansion column, each of an expansion strut pair including a first expansion strut, a second expansion strut and a joining strut coupling an end of the strut pair forming a cell slot; a plurality of expansion strut pairs forming a second expansion column, each of an expansion strut pair including a first expansion strut, a second expansion strut and a joining strut coupling an end of the strut pair forming a cell; and a plurality of serial connecting struts forming a first serial connecting strut column and including a first serial connecting strut, each of a first serial connecting strut having a proximal portion including a proximal stem and a proximal linear section, a distal portion with a distal stem and a distal linear section and a coupling intermediate portion, the first serial connecting strut column coupling the first expansion column to the second expansion column, the linear section of the first connecting strut proximal portion having a longitudinal axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent.

Claim 55

An intra-luminal vascular stent in a non-expanded state with a longitudinal axis, comprising: a plurality of expansion strut pairs forming a first expansion column, each of an expansion strut pair including a first expansion strut, a second expansion strut and a joining strut coupling an end of the strut pair forming a cell slot; a plurality of expansion strut pairs forming a second expansion column, each of an expansion strut pair including a first expansion strut, a second expansion strut and a joining strut coupling an end of the strut pair forming a cell; and a plurality of serial connecting struts forming a first serial connecting strut column and including a first serial connecting strut, each of a first serial connecting strut having a proximal portion including a proximal stem and a proximal linear section, a distal portion with a distal stem and a distal linear section and a coupling intermediate portion, the first serial connecting strut column coupling the first expansion column to the second expansion column, the linear section of the first connecting strut proximal portion having a longitudinal axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent.

Claim 56

The stent of claim 52 , wherein at least one strut in a strut pair of the first expansion column has a stair-step configuration.

Claim 57

The stent of claim 53 , wherein at least one strut in a strut pair of the second expansion column has a stair-step configuration.

Claim 58

The stent of claim 52 , wherein at least one strut in a strut pair of the first expansion column having a straight-line configuration.

Claim 59

The stent of claim 52 , wherein at least one strut in a strut pair of the second expansion column having a straight-line configuration.

Claim 60

The stent of claim 52 , wherein at least one strut in a strut pair of the first expansion column having a stair-step configuration, and at least one strut in a strut pair of the second expansion column having a straight-line configuration.

Claim 61

The stent of claim 52 , wherein at least one strut in a strut pair of the second expansion column having a stair-step configuration, and at least one strut in a strut pair of the first expansion column having a straight-line configuration.

Claim 62

The stent of claim 52 , wherein the cell slots in the first expansion column are non-parallel to the cell slots in the second expansion column.

Claim 63

The stent of claim 52 , wherein the cell slots of the first and second expansion columns are non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent.

Claim 64

The stent of claim 52 , wherein the first and second expansion columns and the first serial connecting strut column form a first set of stent cells.