Stents incorporating a plurality of strain-distribution locations

1. Apparatus comprising a stent ( 120 ) having proximal and distal ends ( 140 , 142 ), which is configured to assume radially-compressed and radially-expanded states, and which comprises a plurality of circumferential bands ( 122 ) disposed about a longitudinal axis ( 123 ) of the stent ( 120 ), each of which bands ( 122 ) comprises a plurality of struts ( 124 ) connected to one another,

wherein at least one of the bands ( 122 ) is shaped so as to define a plurality of distally-directed peaks ( 126 ) alternating with a plurality of proximally-directed troughs ( 128 ), and one or more strain-concentration modules ( 132 ), each of which modules ( 132 ) has a central axis ( 156 ) parallel to the longitudinal axis ( 123 ) of the stent ( 120 ), and comprises:

an open loop section ( 150 ), which (a) comprises one of the distally-directed peaks ( 126 ), and (b) is shaped so as to define first and second proximal open loop ends ( 160 A, 160 B) disposed on opposite sides of the central axis ( 156 ), wherein, when the stent ( 120 ) is in its radially-compressed state, the open loop section ( 150 ) has a greatest outer width (W) measured perpendicular to the central axis ( 156 ), and a first distance (D 1 ) between the first and the second proximal open loop ends ( 160 A, 160 B) is less than 20% of the greatest outer width (W);

a primary neck section ( 152 ), which comprises first and second primary segments ( 162 A, 162 B) of first and second ones of the struts ( 164 A, 164 B), respectively, disposed on opposite sides of the central axis ( 156 ), wherein first and second distal ends ( 166 A, 166 B) of the first and the second primary segments ( 162 A, 162 B) are connected to the first and the second proximal open loop ends ( 160 A, 160 B) at first and second primary junctions ( 168 A, 168 B), respectively, and wherein each of the first and the second primary segments ( 162 A, 162 B) has a length (L 1 ) equal to at least 33% of the greatest outer width (W) of the open loop section ( 150 ); and

a secondary section ( 154 ), which comprises first and second secondary segments ( 170 A, 170 B) of the first and the second struts ( 164 A, 164 B), respectively, disposed on opposite sides of the central axis ( 156 ), wherein first and second distal ends ( 172 A, 172 B) of the first and the second secondary segments ( 170 A, 170 B), respectively, are connected to first and second proximal ends ( 174 A, 174 B) of the first and the second primary segments ( 170 A, 170 B) at first and second secondary junctions ( 176 A, 176 B), respectively,

wherein the first primary segment ( 162 A) defines a first primary straight line ( 180 A), which passes through the first distal end ( 166 A) and the first proximal end ( 174 A) of the first primary segment ( 162 A), and the second primary segment ( 162 B) defines a second primary straight line ( 180 B), which passes through the second distal end ( 166 B) and the second proximal end ( 174 B) of the second primary segment ( 162 B),

wherein the first primary line ( 180 A) defines a distal-facing primary angle (α) with the second primary line ( 180 B) which (i) has a compressed value of between 0 and 5 degrees, when the stent ( 120 ) is in its radially-compressed state, and (ii) has an expanded value that is between (x) 5 degrees greater than the compressed value of the primary angle (α) and (y) 60 degrees, when the stent ( 120 ) is in its radially-expanded state,

wherein the first secondary segment ( 170 A) defines a first secondary straight line ( 182 A), which passes through (i) the first distal end ( 172 A) of the first secondary segment ( 170 A) and (ii) a first point ( 184 A) on the first secondary segment ( 170 A) at a second distance (D 2 ) from the first distal end ( 172 A) of the first secondary segment ( 170 A), and the second secondary segment ( 170 B) defines a second secondary straight line ( 182 B), which passes through (i) the second distal end ( 172 B) of the second secondary segment ( 170 B) and (ii) a second point ( 184 B) on the second secondary segment ( 170 B) at the second distance (D 2 ) from the second distal end ( 172 B) of the second secondary segment ( 170 B), which second distance (D 2 ) equals 25% of the greatest outer width (W), and

wherein the first secondary line ( 182 A) defines a distal-facing secondary angle (β) with the second secondary line ( 182 B) which (i) has a compressed value of between 0 and 5 degrees, when the stent ( 120 ) is in its radially-compressed state, and (ii) has an expanded value that is greater than the expanded value of the primary angle (α), when the stent ( 120 ) is in its radially-expanded state.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the expanded value of the secondary angle (β) is between (x) 5 degrees greater than the expanded value of the primary angle (α) and (y) 90 degrees.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein radii of curvature of the first and the second struts ( 164 A, 164 B) at the first and the second secondary junctions ( 176 A, 176 B), respectively, are less than 50% of a length of the first primary segment ( 162 A) and 50% of a length of the second primary segment ( 162 B), respectively, when the stent ( 120 ) is in its radially-expanded state.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the stent ( 120 ) is configured to assume a plurality of partially radially-compressed states between its radially-compressed and its radially-expanded states, and wherein, when the stent ( 120 ) is in at least one of its partially radially-compressed states, the primary angle (α) has a partially-compressed value of between 0 and 10 degrees, and the secondary angle (β) has a partially-compressed value that is greater than the partially-compressed value of the primary angle (α).

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein none of the struts ( 124 ), other than the first and the second struts ( 164 A, 164 B), is connected to the first primary junction ( 168 A) or the second primary junction ( 168 B).

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein none of the struts ( 124 ), other than the first and the second struts ( 164 A, 164 B), is connected to the first secondary junction ( 176 A) or the second secondary junction ( 176 B).

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first and the second primary segments ( 162 A, 162 B) of the primary neck section ( 152 ) are straight when the stent ( 120 ) is in its radially-compressed state.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first and the second primary segments ( 162 A, 162 B) of the primary neck section ( 152 ) are straight when the stent ( 120 ) is in its radially-expanded state.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first and the second primary segments ( 162 A, 162 B) of the primary neck section ( 152 ) are curved when the stent ( 120 ) is in its radially-expanded state, and are straight when the stent ( 120 ) is in its radially-compressed state.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the stent ( 120 ) is shaped so as to generally define a cylinder when in its radially-expanded state, and wherein the struts ( 124 ) of the strain-concentration modules ( 132 ) coincide with a surface of the cylinder.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the bands ( 122 ) is serpentine at least when the stent ( 120 ) is in its radially-expanded state.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the bands ( 122 ) extends around an entire circumference of the stent ( 120 ).

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a length of the open loop section, measured along a perimeter thereof, is at least 0.7 mm.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein first and second proximal ends ( 174 A, 174 B) of the first and second secondary segments ( 170 A, 170 B), respectively, are directly or indirectly connected to another one of the bands ( 122 ).

15. The apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the secondary section ( 154 ) is a secondary neck section ( 154 ),

wherein each of the first and second secondary segments ( 170 A, 170 B) has a length equal to at least 66% of the greatest outer width (W) of the open loop section ( 150 ),

wherein each of the one or more strain concentration modules ( 132 ) further comprises a tertiary section ( 200 ), which comprises first and second tertiary segments ( 202 A, 202 B) of the first and the second struts ( 164 A, 164 B), respectively, disposed on opposite sides of the central axis ( 156 ), wherein first and second distal ends ( 204 A, 204 B) of the first and the second tertiary segments ( 202 A, 202 B), respectively, are connected to first and second proximal ends ( 206 A, 206 B) of the first and the second secondary segments ( 170 A, 170 B) at first and second tertiary junctions ( 208 A, 208 B), respectively,

wherein the first tertiary segment ( 202 A) defines a first tertiary straight line ( 210 A), which passes through (i) the first distal end ( 204 A) of the first tertiary segment ( 202 A) and (ii) a third point ( 212 A) on the first tertiary segment ( 202 A) at the second distance (D 2 ) from the first distal end ( 204 A) of the first tertiary segment ( 202 A), and the second tertiary segment ( 202 B) defines a second tertiary straight line ( 210 B), which passes through (i) the second distal end ( 204 B) of the second tertiary segment ( 202 B) and (ii) a fourth point ( 212 B) on the second tertiary segment ( 202 B) at the second distance (D 2 ) from the second distal end ( 204 B) of the second tertiary segment ( 202 B), and

wherein the first tertiary line ( 210 A) defines a tertiary angle (θ) with the second tertiary line ( 210 B) which (i) has a compressed value of at least 105% of the compressed value of angle β (beta), when the stent is in its radially-compressed state, and (ii) has an expanded value that is between (x) 120% of the expanded value of the secondary angle (β) and (y) 135 degrees, when the stent ( 120 ) is in its radially-expanded state.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the first and the second secondary segments ( 170 A, 170 B) of the secondary neck section ( 154 ) are straight when the stent ( 120 ) is in its radially-compressed state.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the first and the second secondary segments ( 170 A, 170 B) of the secondary neck section ( 154 ) are straight when the stent ( 120 ) is in its radially-expanded state.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the stent ( 120 ) comprises a metal.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the metal comprises a superelastic alloy.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the superelastic alloy comprises Nitinol.

21. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the stent ( 120 ) is self-expanding from the radially-compressed state to the radially-expanded state.

22. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the radially-expanded relaxed state of the stent ( 120 ) is achieved by heat-setting of the stent ( 120 ) in the radially-expanded state that is more radially expanded than an initial as-cut state of the stent ( 120 ).

23. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the circumferential bands ( 122 ) comprise a plurality of substantially M-shaped segments.

24. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the circumferential bands ( 122 ) are adjacently connected therebetween.

25. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a graft member ( 30 ), which covers at least a portion of the stent ( 120 ) and is securely connected thereto.