HELICAL ULTRA LOW FORESHORTENING STENT
Various embodiments for an endovascular implantable device (and variations thereof) that virtually eliminates the problem of stent foreshortening phenomena in which the length of a stent or prosthesis shortens as the prosthesis is expanded in the biological vessel.
1 . An implantable prosthesis, comprising:
a first framework circumscribing in a first helical path about a longitudinal axis proximate a first end to proximate a second end of the implantable prosthesis, the first framework including a plurality of struts disposed in a first sinusoidal pattern along the first helical path with a primary apex portion connected for every pair of struts of the first framework;
a second framework spaced from the first framework, the second framework circumscribing a second helical path about the longitudinal axis proximate the first end to proximate the second end, the second framework including a plurality of struts disposed in a second sinusoidal pattern along the second helical path with a secondary apex portion connected to a pair of struts for every pair of struts of the second framework;
a plurality of connectors, each connector is connected to proximate a primary apex portion of the first framework and to proximate a secondary apex portion of the secondary framework; and
wherein the first framework has a first starting location generally diametrically opposed to a second starting location of the second framework with reference to the longitudinal axis.
2 . The implantable prosthesis of claim 1 , wherein:
each primary apex portion is connected via the respective connector to each secondary apex portion circumferentially offset to such primary apex portion so that the respective connector defines an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.
3 . The implantable prosthesis of claim 1 , wherein:
each primary apex portion is connected via the respective connector to each secondary apex portion circumferentially offset to such primary apex portion by one secondary apex portion so that the respective connector defines an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.
4 .- 6 . (canceled)
7 . The implantable prosthesis of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of connectors comprises a linear member.
8 . The implantable prosthesis of claim 7 , wherein adjacent connectors are disposed in a generally parallel configuration.
9 . (canceled)
10 . The implantable prosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the implantable prosthesis includes a first length when crimped or compressed to have a smaller outer diameter and a second length of no less than about 80% of the first length when the implantable prosthesis is uncompressed to expand to a larger outer diameter.
11 . The implantable prosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the first framework defines a first helical angle with respect to the longitudinal axis and the second framework defines a second helical angle with respect to the longitudinal axis when the implantable prosthesis is in an uncompressed configuration.
12 . The implantable prosthesis of claim 11 , wherein one or more connector portions of the plurality of connectors define a third helical angle with respect to the longitudinal axis when the implantable prosthesis is in the uncompressed configuration.
13 . The implantable prosthesis of claim 11 , wherein the first helical angle is generally equal to the second helical angle.
14 . The implantable prosthesis of claim 12 , wherein the third helical angle is different from the first helical angle or the second helical angle.
15 . The implantable prosthesis of claim 14 , wherein the third helical angle is less than either of the first helical angle or the second helical angle.
16 . The implantable prosthesis of claim 15 , wherein the first helical angle is about 65 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis.
17 . The implantable prosthesis of claim 15 , wherein the second helical angle is about 65 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis.
18 . The implantable prosthesis of claim 15 , wherein the third helical angle is about 30 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis.
19 . The implantable prosthesis of claim 15 , wherein the third helical angle is about half of one of the first and second helical angles.
20 . The implantable prosthesis of claim 15 , wherein the implantable prosthesis includes a first length and a smaller outer diameter when the implantable prosthesis is in a compressed configuration and a second length of no less than about 90% of the first length when the implantable prosthesis is in the uncompressed configuration.
21 . (canceled)
22 . The implantable prosthesis of claim 20 , wherein the implantable prosthesis comprises a biocompatible metal including alloys of metal.
23 . The implantable prosthesis of claim 19 , wherein the implantable prosthesis comprises a biocompatible polymer.
24 . The implantable prosthesis of claim 19 , wherein the implantable prosthesis comprises a combination of biocompatible metal and polymer.
25 . The implantable prosthesis of claim 19 , wherein the implantable prosthesis comprises a drug coating disposed on surfaces of the implantable prosthesis.
26 . (canceled)