Abstract In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a stent for insertion into a
vessel of a patient. The stent is a tubular member having front and back open ends and a
longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The tubular member has a first smaller diameter for
insertion into a patient and navigation through the vessels, and a second larger diameter for
deployment into the target area of a vessel. The tubular member is made from a plurality of
adjacent hoops extending between the front and back ends. The hoops include a plurality of
longitudinal struts and a plurality of loops connecting adjacent struts. The stent further
includes a plurality of bridges having loop to bridge connections which connect adjacent hoops
to one another. The bridge to loop connection points are separated angularly with respect to
the longitudinal axis. The bridges have one end attached to a loop, another end attached to a
loop on an adjacent hoop. The bridges have a non-linear curved profile between their bridge to
loop connection points.
A stent for insertion into a vessel of a patient, said stent comprising: a) a tubular member have a thickness and having front and back open ends and a
longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said member having a first smaller diameter for
insertion into said vessel, and a second larger diameter for deployment into said vessel; b) said tubular member comprising a plurality of adjacent hoops extending between said
front and back ends, said hoops comprising a plurality of longitudinal struts and a plurality of
loops connecting adjacent struts; and c) a plurality of bridges connecting adjacent hoops to one another at bridge to loop
connection points wherein said connection points are separated angularly with respect to said
longitudinal axis, said bridges having a non-linear curved profile between said bridge to loop
connection points.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
43 words
The stent of claim 1 wherein said loops comprise curved substantially semi-circular
sections having centers, said bridges being connected to said loops at loop to bridge connection
points having centers, said centers of said points being offset from said centers of said loops.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The stent of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said stent is made from a superelastic alloy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The stent of claim 3, wherein said superelastic alloy is a superelastic Nickel Titanium
alloy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The stent of claim 3 or claim 4 wherein said alloy comprises from 50.5 percent to 60
percent Nickel and the remainder comprising Titanium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The stent of claim 5 wherein the stent has an Af temperature between 24 to 37 degrees
Celsius.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The stent of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said struts have lengths, measured parallel
to said longitudinal axis, and wherein the ratio of the number of struts per hoop to the length of
a strut as measured in inches is greater than about 200.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The stent of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said bridges, loops and struts have widths
which are less than said thickness of said tubular member.