Stent with protruding branch portion for bifurcated vessels
The present invention is directed to a stent for use in a bifurcated body lumen having a main branch and a side branch. The stent comprises a radially expandable generally tubular stent body having proximal and distal opposing ends with a body wall having a surface extending therebetween. The surface has a geometrical configuration defining a first pattern, and the first pattern has first pattern struts and connectors arranged in a predetermined configuration. The stent also comprises a branch portion comprised of a second pattern, wherein the branch portion is at least partially detachable from the stent body.
1. A stent comprising:
a tubular stent body defined by a pattern of struts, said stent body defining a tubular sidewall, said stent body having a side aperture defined by a contour of a loop constructed of a plurality of loop struts, said loop connected to other portions of the stent body by connector struts, the stent body being expandable from an unexpanded configuration wherein said loop and said connector struts are oriented in said tubular sidewall to an expanded configuration wherein said loop and said connector struts extend outward from said tubular sidewall.
2. The stent according to claim 1 , wherein during expansion, said loop expands in a translatory motion, radially outwards from the rest of the stent body.
3. The stent according to claim 1 , wherein said loop comprises a first loop, the stent further comprising a second loop surrounding the first loop, wherein said second loop is concentric with said first loop.
4. The stent according to claim 1 , wherein said loop has a serpentine shape.
5. The stent according to claim 1 , wherein said loop is symmetric across a loop axis oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of said stent body when the stent is in a non-expanded configuration.
6. The stent according to claim 1 , wherein said loop is symmetric across a loop axis oriented transverse to a longitudinal axis of said stent body when the stent is in a non-expanded configuration.
7. The stent according to claim 1 , wherein said loop struts are expandable axially along a longitudinal axis of said stent body and are also expandable radially outwards.
8. The stent according to claim 1 , further comprising a branch stent attachable to said loop by means of an attachment device.
9. The stent according to claim 8 , wherein said attachment device attaches to an inside surface of said loop.
10. The stent according to claim 8 , wherein said attachment device device attaches to an outside surface of said loop.
11. The stent according to claim 8 , wherein said attachment device extends generally straight out of the rest of said branch stent.
12. The stent according to claim 8 , wherein said attachment device extends at a non-zero angle with respect to the rest of said branch stent.
13. The stent according to claim 8 , wherein said branch stent is adapted for introduction into a branch lumen before expanding said stent.
14. The stent according to claim 8 , wherein said branch stent is adapted for introduction into a branch lumen after expanding said stent.
15. A stent comprising:
a tubular stent body defined by a pattern of struts, said stent body defining a tubular sidewall and having a side aperture defined by a contour of a ring constructed of at least one strut, said ring connected to other portions of the stent body by support struts, the stent body being expandable from an unexpanded configuration wherein said ring and said support struts are oriented in said tubular sidewall to an expanded configuration wherein said ring and said support struts extend outward from said tubular sidewall.
16. The stent according to claim 15 , wherein during expansion, said ring expands radially outwards from the rest of the stent body.
17. The stent according to claim 15 , wherein said ring comprises a first ring, the stent further comprising a second ring surrounding the first ring, wherein said second ring is concentric with said first ring.
18. The stent according to claim 15 , wherein said ring has a serpentine shape.