CA2214627A1 - Expandable stent - Google Patents

Abstract

An expandable stent comprising a proximal end and a distal end in communication with one another, a tubular wall disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, the tubular wall having a longitudinal axis and a poroussurface defined by a plurality intersecting members arranged to define a first repeating pattern comprised of a polygon having a pair of side walls substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, each side wall comprising first and second flexure means of the same phase with respect to the longitudinal axis, a concaveshaped first wall having a first apex and a convex-shaped second wall having a second apex, the first wall and the second wall connecting the side walls, at least one of the first apex and the second apex being substantially flat, the stent being expandable from a first, contracted position to a second, expanded position uponthe application of a radially outward force on the stent.

Claims (19)

1. An expandable stent comprising a proximal end and a distal end in communication with one another, a tubular wall disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, the tubular wall having a longitudinal axis and a poroussurface defined by a plurality intersecting members arranged to define a first repeating pattern comprised of a polygon having a pair of side walls substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, each side wall comprising first and second flexure means of the same phase with respect to the longitudinal axis, a concaveshaped first wall having a first apex and a convex-shaped second wall having a second apex, the first wall and the second wall connecting the side walls, at least one of the first apex and the second apex being substantially flat, the stent being expandable from a first, contracted position to a second, expanded position uponthe application of a radially outward force on the stent.

2. The stent defined in claim 1, wherein the each of the first and second flexure means comprise lateral section disposed in each longitudinal strut.

3. The stent defined in claim 2, wherein the lateral section comprises a pointed apex.

4. The stent defined in claim 2, wherein the lateral section comprises a rounded apex.

5. The stent defined in claim 2, wherein the lateral section comprises a flat apex.

6. The stent defined in claim 5, wherein the first flexure means and the second flexure means are symmetric.

7. The stent defined in claim 5, wherein the first flexure means and the second flexure means are asymmetric.

8. The stent defined in claim 7, wherein the first flexure means and the second flexure means have substantially the same shape and differing size.

9. The stent defined in claim 7, wherein the first flexure means and the second flexure means have differing shape and size.

10. The stent defined in any one of claims 6-9, wherein the first lateral section and the second lateral section have substantially the same shape and differing size.

11. The stent defined in any one of claims 1-10, wherein one or both of the first flexure means and the second flexure means comprises a curved section having an arc of greater than 180°.

12. The stent defined in any one of claims 1-10, wherein one or both of the first flexure means and the second flexure means comprises a curved section having an arc of about 180°.

13. The stent defined in any one of claims 11-12, wherein the curved sections are of substantially the same size.

14. The stent defined in any one of claims 11-12, wherein the curved sections are of different size.

15. The stent defined in any one of claims 1-14, wherein the stent is constructed of stainless steel.

16. The stent defined in any one of claims 1-14, wherein the stent is constructed of a self-expanding material.

17. The stent defined in claim 16, wherein the self-expanding material is nitinol.

18. The stent defined in claim 16, wherein the self-expanding material expands at a temperature of greater than about 30°C.

19. The stent defined in claim 16, wherein the self-expanding material expands at a temperature of in the range of from about 30° to about 40°C.