Stent having tapered struts
US6475233B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 23, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 5, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 18, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2240/001
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention is directed to an expandable stent which is relatively flexible along its longitudinal axis to facilitate delivery through tortuous body lumens, but which is stiff and stable enough radially in an expanded condition to maintain the patency of a body lumen such as an artery when implanted therein. The struts of the present invention have a specific trapezoidal, triangular or a reduced radii configuration projecting radially outward that functions to reduce the forces necessary to penetrate the vessel wall thereby minimizing trauma or damage imparted to the wall during deployment. In addition, this design feature of the present invention helps secure the expanded stent so that it does not move once it is implanted and furthermore, minimizes projections into the blood stream.The invention generally includes a plurality of radially expandable loop elements which are relatively independent in their ability to expand and to flex relative to one another. The individual radially expandable elements of the stent are dimensioned to minimize the strut from twisting or rotating during expansion. Interconnecting elements or a backbone extends between the adjacent loop elem…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.