Improved stent configurations

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

0001This invention relates to stents of improved configuration which incorporate spiral articulations which unwind to form bracing structures or scaffolding upon expansion.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

0002Stents are radially expandable endoprosthesis which are typically intravascular implants capable of being implanted transluminally and enlarged radially after being introduced percutaneously. They have also been implanted in urinary tracts and bile ducts. They are used to reinforce body vessels and to prevent restenosis following angioplasty in the vascular system. They may be self-expanding or expanded by an internal radial force, such as when mounted on a balloon.

0003An example of a stent is shown in <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP0421729A"><text>EP 0 421 729</text></patcit> which discloses a stent with segments connected together by coiled hinges.

0004<patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="WO9833546A"><text>WO 98/33546</text></patcit> is comprised in the state of art relevant to the question of novelty. This document discloses a stent with rotation joints.

0005In the past, stents have assumed many configurations and been made of many materials, including metals and plastic. Ordinary metals such as stainless steel have been used as have shape memory metals such as nitinol and the like. Stents have also been made of biodegradable plastic materials. They have been formed from wire, tube stock, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0006This invention provides a new configuration for stents which may be adapted by all of the various types of prior art stents referred to hereinabove. There are numerous advantages to the new configuration. It limits recoil and adds resistance to compression for the expanded stent, among other things. It is longitudinally flexible in both the unexpanded and expanded conditions. It has several embodiments.

0007An important part of the new configuration includes a spiral structure comprised of joined elements which are coiled or bent and which unwind, uncoil or unbend to a more or less straightened condition on expansion of the stent. Such structures are hereinafter referred to collectively as spirals. These structures provide regions of low strain in the stent during expansion. These elements may be joined to each other or to any radially expansive members of any kind, annular serpentine members being preferred.

Brief Description of the Figures

0008<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> is a flat view of one pattern embodiment of a stent configuration of the invention (unexpanded);</li><li><figref idref="f0001">Figure 2</figref> is a detail of a portion of <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref>;</li><li><figref idref="f0001">Figure 3</figref> is an end view of a stent of the <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> pattern according to the invention showing it in tubular configuration;</li><li><figref idref="f0001">Figure 4</figref> is a showing of a stent in the embodiment of the preceding Figures in perspective and in an unexpanded configuration;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figure 5</figref> is a showing of the stent of <figref idref="f0001">Figure 4</figref> fully expanded with details of the front and rear of the stent;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figures 6, 7 and 8</figref> are showings of the stent of <figref idref="f0001">Figure 4</figref> in various stages of expansion with only details of the front of the stent shown for simplicity;</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Figure 9</figref> is a plan view showing another embodiment of the invention;</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Figure 10</figref> is a showing of a modified example;</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Figure 11</figref> is a showing of another embodiment;</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Figure 12</figref> is a detail of a portion of <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 11</figref>;</li><li><figref idref="f0005">Figure 13</figref> is a showing of the stent of <figref idref="f0004">FIGS. 11 and 12</figref> in an expanded configuration;</li><li><figref idref="f0005">Figure 14</figref> is a showing of another embodiment;</li><li><figref idref="f0006">Figure 15</figref> is a showing of another example;</li><li><figref idref="f0006">Figure 16</figref> is a showing of yet another embodiment;</li><li><figref idref="f0007">Figure 17</figref> is a showing of still another embodiment;</li><li><figref idref="f0008 f0009">Figures 18 and 23-28 </figref>show embodiments of spirals, and</li><li><figref idref="f0008">Figures 19-22</figref> show coil-like examples which do not fall under the wording of the claims.</li></ul>

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

0009One preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in <figref idref="f0001 f0002">Figures 1-8</figref>. It comprises a metal tube-like structure 10 as best shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figures 3 and 4</figref>, such as nitinol or stainless steel, which has been etched or laser cut to the configuration shown in the plan view of <figref idref="f0001">Figures 1 and 2</figref> and in a short version as shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 4</figref>. The configuration is made up of a series of serpentine annular expandable elements or segments 12 which form loops 14 to allow for radial annular expansion. Segments 12 may be other configurations but serpentine is preferred. Elements 12 are interconnected by pairs of elongated members 13a and 13b which are attached at one end to successive loops 14 of a segment 12 and which are joined at their other ends to adjacent pairs of elongated members 13a and 13b, as best seen in detail in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 2</figref>. Members 13a and 13b are preferably of narrower gauge than members 12 and are joined together in a spiral arrangement as shown generally at 16. Spiral 16 forms a structure about which members 13 may uncoil or unwind in a counterclockwise direction or clockwise direction to a substantially straight condition, depending on the spiral winding direction, upon radial expansion of members 12. In this embodiment spirals 16 are formed in alternate wound structures so that some unwind in one direction and some in the other direction. Of course, in any embodiment the spirals can be formed so that they all unwind in one direction, either clockwise or counterclockwise and they may have more or fewer members 13. Also, more or less spirals may be included between the segments. The uncoiling is accompanied by a straightening action with respect to members 13 as is described in more detail in connection with <figref idref="f0001 f0002">Figures 4-8</figref>. It can be seen from <figref idref="f0001 f0002">Figures 4 through 8</figref> that the resultant configuration in an expanded stent of this configuration is comprised of a plurality of cells, the perimeter of each of which is defined by a pair of members or struts defined by the loop portion 14 of segment 12 and a pair of members or struts 13. The cells are joined at 16 as best seen in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 8</figref>. More specifically the cells are of two kinds as shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 8</figref>. A first pair of cells are A and B made up of a segment 12 and two struts 13a for cell A or 13b for cell B. A second pair of cells are C and D made up of an inward loop portion 14 of segment 12 and a strut 13a and a strut 13b for cells C and D.

0010When a stent of the invention, such as that shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figures 1-4</figref> undergoes expansion, such as from the embodiment of <figref idref="f0001">Figure 4</figref>, it will appear as shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 5</figref> in the fully expanded condition. <figref idref="f0002">Figure 5</figref> shows the stent in perspective.

0011The unwinding action which the spiral elements 16 undergo upon stent expansion is best seen in <figref idref="f0002">Figures 6-8</figref> which show only the front side surface of the stent for simplicity and clarity.

0012As radial expansion begins (seen in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 6</figref>) it can be appreciated that the spiral elements 16 undergo an unwinding or straightening action by a pulling force on all of the members 13. Specifically, as expansion occurs, elements 13 undergo a straightening action as can be seen in the early stages of expansion in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 6</figref>.

0013Upon further expansion (seen in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 7</figref>), spirals 16 undergo further unwinding, i.e., elements 13 undergo further straightening.

0014Finally in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 8</figref>, substantial full expansion provides substantially straightened elements 13 which in that condition limit stent recoil and increase the resistance to compression of the stent.

0015<figref idref="f0003">Figure 9</figref> shows a modified embodiment in which elements 13a and 13b contact segment 12 at the end of its loops 14. Also note in this embodiment that the spirals 16 are all wound in the same direction.

0016<figref idref="f0003">Figure 10</figref> shows an example which does not fall under the wording of the claims in which the members 13 are more bent and less curvilinear but still form a coil-like configuration 16. The remainder of the configuration is similar to that of <figref idref="f0003">Figure 9</figref>. In <figref idref="f0003">Figure 10</figref>, elongate members 13 are shown prior to expansion of the stent. When the stent is expanded, members 13 unwind counter-clockwise and straighten somewhat. At full expansion members 13 straighten still further and straighten substantially so as to provide resistance to compression of the stent and low recoil. The expanded configuration displays a cell configuration similar to that seen in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 8</figref>.

0017Other embodiments are shown in subsequent Figures with different spiral arrangements. For example, the embodiment of <figref idref="f0004 f0005">Figures 11-13</figref> shows spiral arrangements 16 which are wound in the same direction and elements 13 attached at the end of loops 14 while some adjacent spiral between segments are interconnected by members 15.

0018<figref idref="f0005">Figure 14</figref> shows some elements 13 in a spiral 16 contacting the end of loops 14 and some contacting segment 12 proper. Also, some adjacent spiral are interconnected by members 17.

0019<figref idref="f0006">Figure 15</figref> which does not fall under the wording of the claims shows a flattened or elongated arrangement 16 and elements 12 are angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the stent. In previous embodiments, these elements or segments have been arranged parallel to the axis or horizontal. Elongated spirals as in <figref idref="f0005">Figure 13</figref> and spiral of previous Figures may be mixed together. (Not shown).

0020In the embodiments already discussed, annular expandable segments such as segments 12 are interspersed with spiral arrangements 16. However, as can be seen in <figref idref="f0006">Figure 16</figref>, at least a substantial portion or all of the stent body can be merely comprised of spiral arrangements 16 connected to each other. Actually, all of the body may consist of spirals. In this embodiment, the elements 13 interconnect between spirals over substantially the entire body of the stent. Optionally, the ends may include segments 12 as shown.

0021The embodiment shown in <figref idref="f0007">Figure 17</figref> shows segments 12 alternately angled in opposite directions and with legs thereof of different length and elements 13 contacting the segments at different locations, i.e., as at the loop portion 14 and at the segment portion proper.

0022<figref idref="f0008 f0009">Figures 18 and 23-28</figref> demonstrate examples of what is meant by the term spiral. Of course, additional members may be included in the spirals. <figref idref="f0008">Figures 19-22</figref> show coil-like examples which do not fall under the wording of the claims.

0023The inventive stent may also be provided with alternate segments 12 in serpentine annular configuration interconnected by double rows of interconnected spiral configurations 16.

0024Spirals 16 may be included on the ends of a stent 10.

0025While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein specific preferred embodiments of the invention. This description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated.