US6206910B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compliant intraluminal stents
Assignee: Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
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Filing: 1997-09-11
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Granted: 2001-03-27
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Expires: 2017-09-11
Abstract
Abstract An expandable, intraluminal tubular stent is provided for insertion and expansion within the lumen of a vessel. The stent includes a plurality of longitudinal struts. A series of arcuate or V-shaped end links are connected between the ends of the longitudinal struts. A series of deformable cross-links are circumferentially connected between adjacent longitudinal struts at a center portion of the longitudinal struts to permit the stent to be expanded from a first smaller diameter into a second larger diameter upon insertion into the vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 Joel L. Berry
- 👤 James E. Moore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:13
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/82; A61F2/86; A61F2/90; A61F2/91; A61F2/915; A61F2/95; A61F2/958; A61F2002/825; A61F2002/91525; A61F2002/91533; A61F2002/9155; A61F2002/91566; A61F2002/91575; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0014; A61F2210/0019; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0004; A61F2230/0013; A61F2230/0028; A61F2230/0054
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
An expandable, generally tubular, intraluminal stent, having two ends and a center portion, for insertion within the lumen of a vessel, comprising: a. a plurality of rigid longitudinal struts oriented generally parallel to one another about a central axis of the tubular stent; b. a plurality of end links connected between ends of the longitudinal struts, each end link having a first and second leg joined at a fulcrum with the first leg connected with an end of one longitudinal strut and the second leg connected with an end of an adjacent longitudinal strut so that moment arms provided by the first and second legs permit radial flexibility of the stent to gradually decrease from the ends of the stent toward the center portion of the stent; and c. a plurality of deformable cross-links circumferentially connecting longitudinal struts at the center portion of the stent, each cross-link having first and second ends disposed at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal struts to permit the stent to expand upon deformation of the cross-links from a first smaller diameter into a second larger diameter, the deformed cross-links being more rigid than the end links to provide increased rigidity at the center portion of the expanded stent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
An expandable, generally tubular, intraluminal stent, having two ends and a center portion, for insertion within the lumen of a vessel, comprising: a. a plurality of rigid longitudinal struts oriented generally parallel to one another about a central axis of the tubular stent; b. a plurality of end links connected between ends of the longitudinal struts, each end link having a first and second leg joined at a fulcrum with the first leg connected with an end of one longitudinal strut and the second leg connected with an end of an adjacent longitudinal strut so that moment arms provided by the first and second legs permit radial flexibility of the stent to gradually decrease from the ends of the stent toward the center portion of the stent; and c. a plurality of deformable cross-links circumferentially connecting longitudinal struts at the center portion of the stent, each cross-link having first and second ends disposed at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal struts to permit the stent to expand upon deformation of the cross-links from a first smaller diameter into a second larger diameter, the deformed cross-links being more rigid than the end links to provide increased rigidity at the center portion of the expanded stent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The stent in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first end of each end link is connected to the second end of an adjacent end link.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The stent in accordance with claim 2 wherein the first end of each end link is connected to The second end of an adjacent end link at a junction generally at the end of the stent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The stent in accordance with claim 1 wherein the end links are parabolically shaped.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The stent in accordance with claim 4 wherein the end links have a width which is greatest at the fulcrum and tapers towards the first and second ends.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The stent in accordance with claim 1 wherein the cross-links include a pair of legs joined at a fulcrum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The stent in accordance with claim 6 wherein the cross-links are V-shaped.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stent in accordance with claim 1 wherein the end links include a pair of legs joined at a fulcrum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The stent in accordance with claim 8 wherein the end links are V-shaped.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The stent in accordance with claim 8 wherein the end links have a width which is greatest at the fulcrum and tapers towards the ends of the legs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The stent in accordance with claim 8 wherein the cross-links include a pair of legs joined at a fulcrum.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The stent in accordance with claim 11 wherein the cross-links are V-shaped.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stent in accordance with claim 11 wherein the legs of the cross-links are shorter relative to the legs of the end links.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The stent in accordance with claim 1 wherein the longitudinal struts extend generally from one end of the stent to the other end of the stent to inhibit longitudinal foreshortening of the stent during expansion of the stent.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The stent in accordance with claim 14 wherein the cross-links circumferentially connect adjacent longitudinal struts at the center portion of the stent.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The stent in accordance with claim 14 wherein the first end of each end link is connected to the second end of an adjacent end link.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The stent in accordance with claim 16 wherein the first end of each end link is connected to the second end of an adjacent end link at a junction generally at the end of the stent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The stent in accordance with claim 14 wherein the end links are parabolically shaped.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The stent in accordance with claim 18 wherein the end links have a width which is greatest at the fulcrum and tapers towards the first and second ends.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The stent in accordance with claim 14 wherein the cross-links include a pair of legs joined at a fulcrum.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The stent in accordance with claim 20 wherein the cross-links are V-shaped.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stent in accordance with claim 14 wherein the end links include a pair of legs joined at a fulcrum.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The stent in accordance with claim 22 wherein the end links are V-shaped.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The stent in accordance with claim 22 wherein the end links have a width which is greatest at the fulcrum and tapers towards the ends of the legs.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The stent in accordance with claim 22 wherein the cross-links include a pair of legs joined at a fulcrum.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
The stent in accordance with claim 25 wherein the cross-links are V-shaped.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stent in accordance with claim 25 wherein the legs of the cross-links are shorter relative to the legs of the end links.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stent in accordance with claim 1 wherein the cross-links are arranged to define a plurality of deformable circumferential links.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
The stent in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of the longitudinal struts extends only part of the distance between the two ends of the stent.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The stent in accordance with claim 29 wherein at least one of the longitudinal struts extends no more than about half the distance between the two ends of the stent.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stent in accordance with claim 29 wherein at least one of the longitudinal struts comprises a plurality of bars.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
115 words
The stent in accordance with claim 31 wherein at least one longitudinal strut comprises a first bar positioned at the first end of the stent and a second bar symmetrically positioned at the second end of the stent, the first and second bars each having two ends with one end of the first bar being connected to the end links at one end of the stent, the other end of the first bar being connected to one of the circumferential links, one end of the second bar being connected to the end links at the other end of the stent, and the other end of the second bar being connected to a different circumferential link.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The stent in accordance with claim 29 wherein the first end of each end link is connected to the second end of an adjacent end link.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
36 words
The stent in accordance with claim 33 wherein the first end of each end link is connected to the second end of an adjacent end link at a junction generally at the end of the stent.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
The stent in accordance with claim 29 wherein the end links are parabolically shaped.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
28 words
The stent in accordance with claim 35 wherein the end links have a width which is greatest at the fulcrum and tapers towards the first and second ends.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
The stent in accordance with claim 29 wherein the cross-links include a pair of legs joined at a fulcrum.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
12 words
The stent in accordance with claim 37 wherein the cross-links are V-shaped.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stent in accordance with claim 29 wherein the end links include a pair of legs joined at a fulcrum.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
13 words
The stent in accordance with claim 39 wherein the end links are V-shaped.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
28 words
The stent in accordance with claim 39 wherein the end links have a width which is greatest at the fulcrum and tapers towards the ends of the legs.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
19 words
The stent in accordance with claim 39 wherein the cross-links include a pair of legs joined at a fulcrum.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
12 words
The stent in accordance with claim 42 wherein the cross-links are V-shaped.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stent in accordance with claim 42 wherein the legs of the cross-links are shorter relative to the legs of the end links.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
89 words
An expandable, generally tubular, intraluminal stent, having a longitudinal axis, for insertion within the lumen of a vessel, comprising a. at least one rigid longitudinal strut oriented generally parallel to a central axis of the stent: a. a rigid center portion to intenially support the vessel; and b. end sections joined to the rigid center portion having changing flexibility along the longitudinal axis of the stent, the end sections having greater radial flexibility at outer ends of the stent with the radial flexibility gradually decreasing toward the center portion.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
89 words
An expandable, generally tubular, intraluminal stent, having a longitudinal axis, for insertion within the lumen of a vessel, comprising a. at least one rigid longitudinal strut oriented generally parallel to a central axis of the stent: a. a rigid center portion to intenially support the vessel; and b. end sections joined to the rigid center portion having changing flexibility along the longitudinal axis of the stent, the end sections having greater radial flexibility at outer ends of the stent with the radial flexibility gradually decreasing toward the center portion.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
26 words
The stent in accordance with claim 45 wherein the radial flexibility at the outer ends of the stent is matched to the flexibility of the vessel.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
191 words
An expandable, generally tubular, intraluminal stent, having two ends and a center portion, for insertion within the lumen of a vessel, comprising: a. a plurality of end links disposed in a ring at each end of the tubular stent, a first end of each end link being connected to a second end of an adjacent end link, each end link having a first and a second leg joined at a fulcrum so that moment arms provided by the first and second legs permit flexibility of the stent to gradually decrease from the ends of the stent toward the center portion of the stent; b. at least one rigid longitudinal strut oriented generally parallel to a central axis of the stent, the longitudinal strut extending from the ring of end links at one end of the stent to the ring of end links at the other end of the stent; and c. at least one circumferential link attached to the longitudinal strut at about the center portion of the stent to permit the stent to expand upon deformation of the circumferential link from a first smaller diameter into a second larger diameter.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
191 words
An expandable, generally tubular, intraluminal stent, having two ends and a center portion, for insertion within the lumen of a vessel, comprising: a. a plurality of end links disposed in a ring at each end of the tubular stent, a first end of each end link being connected to a second end of an adjacent end link, each end link having a first and a second leg joined at a fulcrum so that moment arms provided by the first and second legs permit flexibility of the stent to gradually decrease from the ends of the stent toward the center portion of the stent; b. at least one rigid longitudinal strut oriented generally parallel to a central axis of the stent, the longitudinal strut extending from the ring of end links at one end of the stent to the ring of end links at the other end of the stent; and c. at least one circumferential link attached to the longitudinal strut at about the center portion of the stent to permit the stent to expand upon deformation of the circumferential link from a first smaller diameter into a second larger diameter.
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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) | 2004-03-26 | 2004-09-25 | 2005-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-26 | 2008-09-25 | 2009-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-26 | 2012-09-25 | 2013-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |