Endoluminal stent having a matched stiffness region and/or a stiffness gradient and methods for providing stent kink resistance
US6610087B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 16, 1999 |
| Grant date | Aug 26, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 16, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2250/0036
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A modular elongated stent having an overlap region where two modular components fit together, the overlap region being relatively stiff as compared to another more flexible region of the stent when the stent is in an assembled configuration, the stent further comprising a mimic region that has a stiffness essentially equivalent to the stiffness of the overlap region, to provide kink resistance. A stent having such a mimic region or otherwise stiff region and a flexible region may have a transition region between the stiff and flexible regions, such as a bridging material attached to the stent, also to provide kink resistance. A stent may have relatively stiff regions and relatively flexible regions positioned to align the flexible regions with curved regions of a body lumen when deployed within the body lumen. The stiffness of the stiff, flexible, and transition regions may be controlled by attaching material to the stent, varying the cross-sectional area of the stent components, varying the metallurgical properties thereof, and/or by varying the stent architecture. Methods for providing kink resistance by controlling stent stiffness are also disclosed. A stent having regions of di…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.