Helical stent having improved flexibility and expandability
US8038707B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 13, 2009 |
| Grant date | Oct 18, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 18, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2250/0098
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A stent includes a central portion of helically wound undulations formed of struts, cylindrical end portions, and transition zones between the helical portion and the cylindrical portions. According to a first aspect of the invention, the torsional flexibility of the stent is maximized by having bridges connecting adjacent winding be interrupted by the maximum possible number of undulations. In a preferred design, each winding includes nineteen undulations around the circumference, bridges are provided every five undulations. According to a second aspect of the invention, uniform, opening of the transition zone is achieved by altering the width, and thereby the flexibility, of a series of struts in accordance with their lengths. Specifically, the long transition zone struts are made wider.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.