Stent having flexibly connected adjacent stent elements

US9622888B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• W.L. Gore & Associates GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Joseph R. Armstrong · Flagstaff, US
• Edward H. Cully · Flagstaff, US
• Mark Y. Hansen · Flagstaff, US
• Brian L. Johnson · Lake Wales, US
• Bret J. Kilgrow · Flagstaff, US
• Larry J. Kovach · Flagstaff, US
• James D. Silverman · Flagstaff, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 16, 2006
• Grant date: Apr 18, 2017
• Expiry date: Jun 16, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61F2002/828
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An open stent (a stent having open space through its thickness at locations between the ends of the stent), incorporating flexible, preferably polymeric, connecting elements into the stent wherein these elements connect adjacent, spaced-apart stent elements. Preferably the spaced-apart adjacent stent elements are the result of forming the stent from a helically wound serpentine wire having space provided between adjacent windings. Other stent forms such as multiple, individual spaced-apart ring-shaped or interconnected stent elements may also be used. The connecting elements are preferably longitudinally oriented.