Filing Information

Inventor(s)	Allen J. Tower ·
Assignee(s)	Numed, Inc. ·  View assignee updates
Attorney/Agent(s)	Harris Beach & Wilcox ·
Primary Examiner	Stephen C. Pellegrino ·
Assistant Examiner	William W. Lewis ·
Application Number	US8145435
Filing date	10/29/1993
Issue date	02/14/1995
Predicted expiration date	10/29/2013
U.S. Classifications	606/198  · 623/1  ·
International Classifications	A61M 2900  ·
Kind Code	A
International Classifications	606198;200;108;191-194 ·

Patent Family

Abstract

There is disclosed a radially expandable stent for intravascular implantation comprising a distensible frame and an impermeable deformable membrane interconnecting portions of the frame to form an impermeable exterior wall. The membrane is formed of a synthetic non-latex, non-vinyl polymer, and the frame comprises a fine wire of annealed platinum. The comprises a plurality of helically aligned circumferential sections including two end sections and a plurality of intermediate sections that define a cylinder having a longitudinal axis, the cylinder being formed of a continuous wire with the circumferential sections being spaced along the axis in abutting contact. Each of the circumferential sections have expandable segments that impart radial expandability to the sections. The expandable segments are tear-drop shaped elements that are alternately inverted about the circumferential sections, each element containing a base and a pair of legs that come together at a common apex when the stent is in an unexpanded condition. One of the end sections has a pigtail that is passed back along the circumferential sections and is joined to the other end section to prevent axial expansion of the expanded during radial expansion.

Independent Claims | See all claims (5)

1. 1. A radially expandable stent for intravascular implantation comprising:a tubular structure having a longitudinal axis, a radius, a central portion, and first and second ends, said tubular structure comprising a distensible frame and an impermeable distensible membrane interconnecting portions of said frame to form an impermeable wall surface disposed between said first and second ends about said axis, said tubular structure being adapted to receive an inflatable catheter for intravascular placement and radial expansion therewith, wherein said membrane is disposed on said central portion and at least one of said first end and said second end is not in contact with said membrane;whereby expansion of said catheter and said tubular structure brings said wall surface into supporting contact with an interior surface of a vessel.