Intravascular stent
View Patent ↗A stent in a non-expanded state has a first column expansion strut pair. A plurality of the first column expansion strut pair form a first expansion column. A plurality of second column expansion strut pair form a second expansion column. A plurality of first serial connecting struts form a first connecting strut column that couples the first expansion column to the second expansion column. The first expansion column, the second expansion column, and the first connecting strut column form a plurality of geometric cells. At least a portion of the plurality are asymmetrical geometric cells.
1. A stent having a length and a plurality of interconnected circumferential bands,
each circumferential band having a plurality of interconnected struts formed in a serpentine pattern,
each of the plurality of interconnected struts having a length and a width as measured along the surface of the stent and a thickness as measured in a radial direction,
the interconnected struts comprise longer struts and shorter struts, the longer struts and shorter struts being alternatingly arranged in a circumferential direction about the stent, the longer and the shorter struts being substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stent,
the interconnected struts further comprising joining struts, the joining struts having one of a first slant direction relative to the longitudinal axis and a second slant direction relative to the longitudinal axis that is different from the first slant direction, the first and second slant directions alternating along the length of the stent,
the circumferential bands including a plurality of first circumferential bands and a plurality of second circumferential bands, the plurality of second circumferential bands having fewer circumferential bands than the plurality of first circumferential bands, the interconnected struts of the second circumferential bands being wider than the interconnected struts of the first circumferential bands, the width of the interconnected struts in each first circumferential band being the same width and the width of the interconnected struts in each second circumferential band being the same width,
wherein one of the plurality of second circumferential bands forms one end of the stent, each second circumferential band is engaged only to one or two first circumferential bands and adjacent circumferential bands are engaged by a plurality of connector struts.
2. The stent of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of second circumferential bands has one of the first circumferential bands positioned distally adjacent thereto and another of the first circumferential bands positioned proximally adjacent thereto.
3. The stent of claim 1 wherein the plurality of second circumferential bands are positioned at multiple locations along the stent.
4. The stent of claim 1 wherein the one of the plurality of second circumferential bands forms a distal end of the stent.
5. The stent of claim 1 wherein the one of the plurality of second circumferential bands forms a proximal end of the stent.
6. The stent of claim 1 wherein another of the plurality of second circumferential bands is positioned at another end of the stent.
7. The stent of claim 1 wherein the stent is tapered.
8. The stent of claim 1 each connector strut comprising at least one bend.
9. The stent of claim 1 , each joining strut engaging a longer strut to a shorter strut.
10. The stent of claim 9 , each joining strut being a substantially straight strut.
11. The stent of claim 1 , wherein there are twice as many first circumferential bands as there are second circumferential bands.
12. The stent of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of relief notches.
13. The stent of claim 12 , each end of a connector strut having a relief notch.
14. A stent, the stent comprising
a plurality of circumferential bands,
each circumferential band comprising a plurality of first struts and a plurality of second struts, each first strut having a first length and each second strut having a second length, the first and second lengths being measured along a surface of the stent, the second length being less than the first length, the first and second struts alternating along the circumferential band, the first and second struts being substantially parallel to one another when the stent is in an unexpanded state;
each circumferential band further comprising a plurality joining struts, the joining struts having one of a first slant direction relative to the longitudinal axis and a second slant direction relative to the longitudinal axis that is different from the first slant direction, the first and second slant directions alternating along the length of the stent,
the plurality of circumferential bands comprising:
at least one first circumferential band, wherein the first and second struts within the first circumferential band each have a first width measured along a surface of the stent; and
a plurality of second circumferential bands, wherein the first and second struts within the second circumferential bands each have a second width measured along a surface of the stent, the second width being less than the first width;
adjacent circumferential bands being engaged one to another by a plurality of connector struts, wherein each first circumferential band is engaged only to one or two second circumferential bands.