Stent
The invention relates to a medical device and a method of using it. The device is a stent which can be percutaneously deliverable with (or on) an endovascular catheter or via other surgical or other techniques and then expanded. The stent is configured to have a central portion defined by “open” cells and at least two end portions, defined by “closed” cells, spaced apart and directly connected to the distal and proximal ends of the central portion of the stent. The stent may also optionally have a covering or a lattice with openings.
1. A stent having a distal end and a proximal end and a longitudinal axis, the stent comprising:
a first circumferential row;
a second circumferential row;
an intermediate section extending at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis and being axially interposed between and directly connected to the first circumferential row and the second circumferential row, the intermediate section including a plurality of undulations formed by apices where two or more struts converge, the first circumferential row including a first plurality of closed cells and the second circumferential row including a second plurality of closed cells;
a first circumferential ring defining the first plurality of closed cells of the first circumferential row;
a first plurality of closed cell axial connectors arranged within the first circumferential row and between the first circumferential ring and the first circumferential row, and including one or more connectors having a variable width; and
a notch formed by a narrowed portion of the one or more connectors and arranged adjacent to the first circumferential ring, the notch having a concave surface facing an interior of an adjacent closed cell of the first plurality of closed cells.
2. The stent of claim 1 , including a second circumferential ring defining the second plurality of closed cells directly connected to the second circumferential row and the plurality of undulations of the intermediate section is a continuous series of undulations having a series of helical turns about the longitudinal axis.
3. The stent of claim 2 , wherein the second plurality of closed cells are formed by a second plurality of closed cell axial connectors arranged within the second circumferential row, and at least one of the first plurality of closed cell axial connectors and the second plurality of closed cell axial connectors are configured to maintain axial spacing of the helical turns.
4. The stent of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first plurality of closed cell axial connectors and the second plurality of closed cell axial connectors are configured to store mechanical energy to lessen buckling of the intermediate section.
5. The stent of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first plurality of closed cell axial connectors and the second plurality of closed cell axial connectors includes the one or more connectors having the variable width.
6. The stent of claim 2 , wherein the notch is arranged adjacent to an apex of one or both of the first circumferential ring and the second circumferential ring.
7. The stent of claim 6 , wherein the notch includes a length and width approximately equal to a width of the apex of one or both of the first circumferential ring and the second circumferential ring.
8. The stent of claim 1 , wherein the notch is configured to hinge and facilitate bending to reduce strain.
9. A stent having a distal end and a proximal end and a longitudinal axis, the stent comprising:
a first circumferential row;
a second circumferential row;
an intermediate section extending at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis and being axially interposed between and directly connected to the first circumferential row and the second circumferential row, the intermediate section including a plurality of undulations formed by apices where two or more struts converge, the first circumferential row including a first plurality of closed cells and the second circumferential row including a second plurality of closed cells;
a first circumferential ring defining the first plurality of closed cells of the first circumferential row;
a first plurality of closed cell axial connectors arranged within the first circumferential row and between the first circumferential ring and the first circumferential row, and including one or more connectors having a variable width; and
a notch formed by a narrowed portion of the one or more connectors and arranged adjacent to the first circumferential ring, the notch having a concave surface facing an interior of an adjacent closed cell of the first plurality of closed cells, and configured to hinge within the intermediate portion and facilitate bending to reduce strain.
10. The stent of claim 9 , wherein the notch is arranged adjacent to an apex of the first circumferential ring.
11. The stent of claim 9 , wherein the notch includes a length and width approximately equal to a width of the apex of the first circumferential ring.
12. The stent of claim 9 , including a second circumferential ring including a second plurality of closed cells directly connected to the second circumferential row and the plurality of undulations of the intermediate section is a continuous series of undulations having a series of helical turns about the longitudinal axis.
13. The stent of claim 12 , wherein the second plurality of closed cells are formed by a second plurality of closed cell axial connectors arranged within the second circumferential row, and at least one of the first plurality of closed cell axial connectors and the second plurality of closed cell axial connectors are configured to maintain axial spacing of the helical turns.
14. A stent delivery system comprising:
a handle housing;
a stent including: a first circumferential row, a second circumferential row, an intermediate section extending at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis and being axially interposed between and directly connected to the first circumferential row and the second circumferential row, the intermediate section including a plurality of undulations, the first circumferential row including a first plurality of closed cells, the second circumferential row including a second plurality of closed cells, a first circumferential ring defining the first plurality of closed cells of the first circumferential row, a first plurality of closed cell axial connectors arranged within the first circumferential row and including one or more connectors having a variable width, and a notch formed by a narrowed portion of the one or more connectors and arranged adjacent to the first circumferential ring configured to hinge within the intermediate portion and facilitate bending to reduce strain and the notch having a concave surface facing an interior of an adjacent closed cell of the first plurality of closed cells; and
a sheath configured to maintain the stent in an insertion configuration and release the stent to a deployed configuration.
15. The stent delivery system of claim 14 , wherein the sheath is configured to deliver the stent to a carotid artery of a patient.
16. The stent delivery system of claim 15 , wherein the stent is configured to conf arm to vessel walls of the carotid artery.
17. The stent delivery system of claim 14 , further comprising a thumb wheel arranged within the handle housing configured to retract the sheath to deploy the stent.
18. The stent delivery system of claim 14 , wherein the notch is arranged adjacent to an apex of the first circumferential ring.