US6485511B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Expandable stents and method for making same
Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc
•
Filing: 2001-06-25
•
Granted: 2002-11-26
•
Expires: 2021-06-25
Abstract
Abstract The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as an artery, and a method for making it from a single length of tubing. The stent consists of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common axis and interconnected by one or more interconnective elements. The individual radially expandable cylindrical elements consist of ribbon-like material disposed in an undulating pattern. Portions of the expanded stent project outwardly into engagement with the vessel wall to more securely attach the stent.
Inventors
- 👤 Lilip Lau
- 👤 William M. Hartigan
- 👤 John J. Frantzen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 06:59
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/82; A61F2/86; A61F2/88; A61F2/89; A61F2/90; A61F2/91; A61F2/915; C; C23; C23F; C23F1/00; C23F1/02; C23F1/04; A61F2/848; A61F2/95; A61F2/958; A61F2002/91533; A61F2002/9155; A61F2002/91558; A61F2002/91575; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0014; A61F2210/0019; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/10; A61M2025/1043; A61M2025/1081; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S623/00; Y10S623/901; Y10S623/902; Y10S623/903; Y10S623/92; Y10S623/921; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49995
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A longitudinally flexible stent for implanting in a body lumen, comprising: a plurality of cylindrical rings having an undulating pattern in the form of peaks and valleys and being aligned on a common longitudinal axis, wherein at least some of the peaks have apexes with a first connection point and at least some of the valleys have depressions with a second connection point; and one or more interconnecting elements between respective adjacent first connection points and second connection points to connect adjacent cylindrical rings.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
A longitudinally flexible stent for implanting in a body lumen, comprising: a plurality of cylindrical rings having an undulating pattern in the form of peaks and valleys and being aligned on a common longitudinal axis, wherein at least some of the peaks have apexes with a first connection point and at least some of the valleys have depressions with a second connection point; and one or more interconnecting elements between respective adjacent first connection points and second connection points to connect adjacent cylindrical rings.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The stent of claim 1 , wherein the respective first connection points and the longitudinal axis are coplanar, so that the interconnecting element extends between two adjacent first connection points.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The stent of claim 2 , wherein: the shortest distance between the respective adjacent first connection points defines a first length; the interconnecting element has a first end and a second end defining a second length therebetween along the interconnecting element; and the first length is substantially equal to the second length.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The stent of claim 2 , wherein: the shortest distance between the respective adjacent first connection points defines a first length; the interconnecting element has a first end and a second end defining a second length therebetween along the interconnecting element; and the first length is less than the second length.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The stent of claim 1 , wherein the first connection point, the second connection point, and the longitudinal axis are coplanar, so that the interconnecting element extends between a first connection point and an adjacent second connection point.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
The stent of claim 5 , wherein: the shortest distance between the first connection point and the respective adjacent second connection point defines a first length; the interconnecting element has a first end and a second end defining a second length therebetween along the interconnecting element; and the first length is less than the second length.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The stent of claim 1 , herein: the shortest distance between the first connection point and the respective adjacent second connection point defines a first length; the interconnecting element has a first end and a second end defining a second length therebetween along the interconnecting element; and the first length is substantially equal to the second length.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stent of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical rings and the interconnecting elements are formed in a unitary structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The stent of claim 8 , wherein the unitary structure is formed from a tubular element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The stent of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical rings and the interconnecting elements are formed separately and are connected using a second connection means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stent of claim 10 , wherein the second connection means includes a weld to attach the interconnecting elements to the connecting points.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The stent of claim 10 , wherein the second connection means includes mechanically attaching the interconnecting elements to the connecting points.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
75 words
A longitudinally flexible stent for implanting in a body lumen, comprising: a plurality of cylindrical rings having an undulating pattern in the form of peaks and valleys and being aligned on a common longitudinal axis; each peak having a first centerline bisecting the peak; each valley having a second centerline bisecting the valley; and an interconnecting element between adjacent peaks and valleys so that there is at least one interconnecting element between adjacent cylindrical rings.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
75 words
A longitudinally flexible stent for implanting in a body lumen, comprising: a plurality of cylindrical rings having an undulating pattern in the form of peaks and valleys and being aligned on a common longitudinal axis; each peak having a first centerline bisecting the peak; each valley having a second centerline bisecting the valley; and an interconnecting element between adjacent peaks and valleys so that there is at least one interconnecting element between adjacent cylindrical rings.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The stent of claim 13 , wherein the first centerline and the longitudinal axis are coplanar.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The stent of claim 14 , wherein the interconnecting element is substantially colinear with the respective first centerline.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stent of claim 14 , wherein the interconnecting element intersects the respective first centerline, but is not colinear therewith.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The stent of claim 13 , wherein the first centerline, the second centerline, and the longitudinal axis are coplanar.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The stent of claim 17 , wherein the interconnecting element, the respective first centerline, and the respective second centerline are substantially colinear.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The stent of claim 17 , wherein the interconnecting element intersects the respective first centerline and the respective second centerline, but is not colinear therewith.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stent of claim 13 , wherein the cylindrical rings and the interconnecting elements are formed in a unitary structure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The stent of claim 20 , wherein the unitary structure is formed from a tubular element.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The stent of claim 13 , wherein the cylindrical rings and the interconnecting elements are formed separately and are connected using a secondary connecting element.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The stent of claim 22 , wherein the secondary connecting element is a weld.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
84 words
A longitudinally flexible stent for implanting in a body lumen, comprising: a plurality of cylindrical rings having an undulating pattern in the form of peaks and valleys and being aligned on a common longitudinal axis; at least some of the peaks having apexes with a first connection point; at least some of the valleys having depressions with a second connection point; and at least one interconnecting element disposed between the first connection point and an adjacent second connection point to connect adjacent cylindrical rings.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
84 words
A longitudinally flexible stent for implanting in a body lumen, comprising: a plurality of cylindrical rings having an undulating pattern in the form of peaks and valleys and being aligned on a common longitudinal axis; at least some of the peaks having apexes with a first connection point; at least some of the valleys having depressions with a second connection point; and at least one interconnecting element disposed between the first connection point and an adjacent second connection point to connect adjacent cylindrical rings.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
56 words
The stent of claim 24 , wherein: the shortest distance between the first connection point and the adjacent second connection point defines a first length; the interconnecting element has a first end and a second end defining a second length therebetween along the interconnecting element; and the first length being substantially equal to the second length.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
55 words
The stent of claim 24 , wherein: the shortest distance between the first connection point and the adjacent second connection point defines a first length; the interconnecting element has a first end and a second end defining a second length therebetween along the interconnecting element; and the first length being less than the second length.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stent of claim 24 , wherein the cylindrical rings and the interconnecting elements are formed in a unitary structure.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The stent of claims 27 , wherein the unitary structure is formed from a tubular element.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The stent of claim 24 , wherein the cylindrical rings and the interconnecting elements are formed separately and are connected using a second connecting element.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The stent of claim 29 , wherein the second connecting element is a weld.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
90 words
A longitudinally flexible stent for implanting in a body lumen, comprising: a first cylindrical ring and a second cylindrical ring, each ring having an undulating pattern in the form of first and second peaks respectively and being aligned on a common longitudinal axis; the first peaks having apexes with respective first connection points; the second peaks having apexes with respective second connection points; and at least one interconnecting element connecting the first cylindrical ring to the second cylindrical ring by being disposed between adjacent respective first and second connection points.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
90 words
A longitudinally flexible stent for implanting in a body lumen, comprising: a first cylindrical ring and a second cylindrical ring, each ring having an undulating pattern in the form of first and second peaks respectively and being aligned on a common longitudinal axis; the first peaks having apexes with respective first connection points; the second peaks having apexes with respective second connection points; and at least one interconnecting element connecting the first cylindrical ring to the second cylindrical ring by being disposed between adjacent respective first and second connection points.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stent of claim 31 , wherein the cylindrical rings and the interconnecting elements are formed in a unitary structure.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
The stent of claim 32 , wherein the unitary structure is formed from a tubular element.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
The stent of claim 31 , wherein the cylindrical rings and the interconnecting elements are formed separately.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
The stent of claim 34 , wherein the interconnecting elements are formed by welds.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
79 words
A longitudinally flexible stent for implanting in a body lumen, comprising: a plurality of cylindrical rings having an undulating pattern in the form of peaks and valleys and being aligned on a common longitudinal axis; the peaks having apexes with respective first connection points at their respective apexes; the valleys having depressions with respective second connection points at their respective depressions; and at least one interconnecting element disposed between adjacent respective first connection points for connecting adjacent cylindrical rings.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
79 words
A longitudinally flexible stent for implanting in a body lumen, comprising: a plurality of cylindrical rings having an undulating pattern in the form of peaks and valleys and being aligned on a common longitudinal axis; the peaks having apexes with respective first connection points at their respective apexes; the valleys having depressions with respective second connection points at their respective depressions; and at least one interconnecting element disposed between adjacent respective first connection points for connecting adjacent cylindrical rings.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stent of claim 36 , wherein the cylindrical rings and the interconnecting elements are formed in a unitary structure.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
16 words
The stent of claim 37 , wherein the unitary structure is formed from a tubular element.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
25 words
The stent of claim 36 , wherein the cylindrical rings and the interconnecting elements are formed separately and are connected using a second connecting element.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
14 words
The stent of claim 39 , wherein the second connecting element is a weld.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-11-25 | 2006-05-27 | 2006-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-11-25 | 2010-05-27 | 2010-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-11-25 | 2014-05-27 | 2014-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |