Helical stent design
An expandable tubular reinforcing member used for body lumens such as blood vessels, the reinforcing member being formed of a continuous elongated helical element comprised of spaced undulating portions forming end loop portions and including a plurality of curvilinear connector elements extending between and interconnecting at least some of the adjacent undulating portions of the helical element over its length.
1. A stent, the stent having a first helical element arranged in a plurality of adjacent spirals and a plurality of connectors, the first helical element defining a plurality of rectangular cells, the plurality of connectors engaging the plurality of adjacent spirals of the first helical element.
2. The stent of claim 1 , the rectangular cells being oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stent.
3. The stent of claim 1 , the rectangular cells being oriented at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the stent.
4. The stent of claim 1 , further comprising a second helical element, the second helical element comprising a plurality of interconnected loop portions.
5. The stent of claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of connecting elements, the connecting elements engaging the first helical element to the second helical element.
6. The stent of claim 5 , the second helical element forming an end of the stent.
7. The stent of claim 5 , each of the plurality of connecting elements having a sinusoidal shape.
8. The stent of claim 1 , each connector being curvilinear.
9. A helical stent comprising interconnected rectangular cells arranged along a helical band and connecting elements engaging adjacent spirals of the helical band.
10. The helical stent of claim 9 , wherein each connecting element includes at least two bends.
11. The helical stent of claim 10 , wherein the bends open in substantially opposite directions.
12. The helical stent of claim 9 , each rectangular cell being oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the helical stent.
13. The helical stent of claim 9 , each rectangular cell being oriented at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the helical stent.
14. The stent of claim 9 , each connecting element being curvilinear.