Stent with offset cell geometry
View Patent ↗A stent defining a longitudinal axis is disclosed. A plurality of circumferential support structures are spaced-apart along the longitudinal axis. At least some of the circumferential support structures are interconnected by connection members that extend generally in a circumferential direction.
1. A stent comprising:
a stent body expandable between an un-deployed orientation and a deployed orientation, the stent body having a circumference and a longitudinal axis extending between first and second open ends,
the stent body having a plurality of circumferential support structures which extend generally about the circumference of the stent, each circumferential support structure including longitudinal struts interconnected at apex portions to define an undulating pattern; and
a plurality of connecting struts interconnecting at least some of the adjacent circumferential support structures, at least one of the connecting struts having a uniform width along substantially an entire length of the respective at least one connecting strut, wherein the uniform width is at least twice as great as a width of at least one of the longitudinal struts.
2. The stent of claim 1 , wherein the uniform width of the at least one of the connecting struts is at least five times as great as the width of the least one of the longitudinal struts.
3. The stent of claim 1 , wherein each connecting strut has a width greater than the width of each longitudinal strut.
4. The stent of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the connecting struts are dimensioned to connect select apex portions of adjacent circumferential support structures, the select apex portions circumferentially offset with respect to each other.
5. The stent of claim 4 , wherein the connecting struts are substantially linear.
6. The stent of claim 5 , wherein the connecting struts are dimensioned to extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stent body.
7. The stent of claim 5 , wherein the connecting struts are dimensioned to extend in oblique relation to the longitudinal axis of the stent body.
8. The stent of claim 4 , wherein the select apex portions of adjacent circumferential support structures are configured to longitudinally overlap when in the un-deployed orientation.
9. The stent of claim 1 , wherein each circumferential support structure includes pairs of longitudinal struts alternating with single longitudinal struts.
10. The stent of claim 9 , wherein the pairs of longitudinal struts are longer than the single longitudinal struts.
11. The stent of claim 9 , wherein the pairs of longer longitudinal struts are interconnected by the connecting struts.
12. A stent comprising:
a stent body expandable between an un-deployed orientation and a deployed orientation, the stent body having a circumference and a longitudinal axis extending between first and second open ends,
the stent body having a plurality of circumferential support structures which extend generally about the circumference of the stent, each circumferential support structure including longitudinal struts interconnected at apex portions to define an undulating pattern,
at least some of the apex portions of adjacent circumferential support structures being configured to longitudinally overlap when in the un-deployed orientation thus providing longitudinal overlap; and
a plurality of connecting struts interconnecting at least some of the adjacent circumferential support structures, the connecting struts extending generally circumferentially between the apex portions that longitudinally overlap, the connecting struts each defining a uniform width along substantially an entire respective length of each respective connecting strut, wherein the uniform width is at least twice as great as a width defined by at least one of the longitudinal struts.
13. The stent of claim 12 , wherein the connecting struts extending between the apex portions that longitudinally overlap are angled at an oblique angle with respect to the circumference of the stent body.
14. The stent of claim 12 , wherein the connecting struts extending between the apex portions that longitudinally overlap are generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stent body.
15. The stent of claim 12 , wherein the uniform width defined by each connecting strut is at least five times as great as the width defined by the least one of the longitudinal struts.