Expandable stent and methods of crimping and expanding such stent

1. An expandable stent comprising a cylindrical wall made up of:

lattice members connected to each other;

at least one first arm that comprises:

a first non-linear member that is connected at each of its axial ends to a lattice member at respective first junctions; and

a second non-linear member connected at each axial end to:

(i) a lattice member; or

(ii) the first non-linear member of the first arm,

which connections restrain the axial ends of the first arm's second non-linear member from protruding from the surrounding stent wall during:

radial expansion of the stent, and consequent protrusion of the first arm radially outwards from the surrounding stent wall; and

at least one bridge member extending between the first non-linear member and the second non-linear member,

at least one second arm that comprises:

a first non-linear member that is connected at each of its axial ends to a lattice member; and

a second non-linear member connected at each axial end to a lattice member, which connections restrain the axial ends of the second arm's second non-linear member from protruding from the surrounding stent wall during: radial expansion of the stent, and consequent protrusion of the second arm radially outwards from the surrounding stent wall; and

at least one bridge member extending between the first non-linear member and the second non-linear member,

characterised in that:

the second non-linear member of the first arm is generally U-shaped, extending from its axial ends towards: (i) a first axial end of the stent; and (ii) towards the bridge of the first arm;

the second non-linear member of the second arm is generally U-shaped, extending from its axial ends towards: (i) a first axial end of the stent; and (ii) towards the bridge of the second arm;

the first arm is disposed at a second axial end of the stent, and the second arm is:

(i) axially spaced from the first arm towards the first axial end of the stent; and (ii) axially aligned with the first arm;

the first non-linear member of each of the first and second arms is connected to lattice members at the first non-linear member's axial ends only;

the second non-linear member of the first arm is connected to: (i) lattice members;

or (ii) the first non-linear member of the first arm, at the first arm's second non-linear member's axial ends only; and

the second non-linear member of the second arm is connected to lattice members at the second arm's second non-linear member's axial ends only,

such that, upon radial expansion of the stent from a radially crimped condition under the influence of an external force, tension in: (i) the bridge of the first arm; and (ii) the bridge member of the second arm, causes the second non-linear members of both the first and second arms to protrude from the first and second arms' second non-linear members' connected axial ends radially outwards from the surrounding stent wall, respectively.

2. A stent according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the first non-linear member of the first arm is longer than the length of the first non-linear member of the second arm.

3. A stent according to claim 2 , wherein the circumferential spacing between the axial ends of the second non-linear member of the first arm is greater than the circumferential spacing between the axial ends of the second non-linear member of the second arm.

4. A stent according to claim 3 , wherein the first non-linear member of the first arm defines a stiffened portion at each axial end of such first non-linear member, which stiffened portions are spaced from each other to define a deformable portion therebetween.

5. A stent according to claim 4 , wherein the first non-linear member of the first arm is substantially M-shaped, defining a pair of leg portions with a curved portion therebetween, wherein each leg portion comprises a stiffened portion and the curved portion comprises the deformable portion.

6. A stent according to claim 5 including: (i) three first arms that are circumferentially equi-offset from each other; and (ii) three second arms that are circumferentially equi-offset from each other.

7. A stent according to claim 6 , wherein, in respect of each second arm, the axial ends of the first non-linear member of the second arm are spaced from the axial ends of the second non-linear member of the second arm, with at least a portion of a lattice member extending therebetween.

8. A stent according to claim 7 , wherein the circumferential spacing between the axial ends of the first non-linear member of each first arm is greater than the circumferential spacing between the axial ends of the first non-linear member of each second arm.

9. A stent according to claim 8 , wherein the first non-linear member of each second arm is generally U-shaped.

10. A stent according to claim 9 , wherein, in respect of each first arm:

each stiffened portion of the first non-linear member of the first arm is at least 1.3 mm in length; and

the stiffened portions of the first non-linear member of the first arm on the one hand and the second non-linear member of the first arm on the other hand are disposed on opposite sides of a virtual plane that: (i) extends between the respective first junctions; and (ii) is transverse the longitudinal axis of the stent,

such that, upon radial expansion of the stent from a radially crimped condition under the influence of an external force, tension in the lattice members at the first junctions causes rotation of the stiffened portions of the first non-linear member of the first arm at the first junctions, thereby causing the ends of the stiffened portions distal the second non-linear member of the first arm to rotate towards each other.

11. A stent according to claim 10 , wherein the stent is right circular cylindrical in shape.

12. A stent according to claim 11 , further including valve leaflets: (i) located within the stent; and (ii) secured to lattice members.

13. A stent according to claim 12 , wherein: (i) three contiguous lattice members are arcuate in shape; (ii) each arcuate-shaped lattice member extends along at least 25% of the perimeter of the stent; (iii) each arcuate-shaped lattice member defines a series of apertures or rings along its length; and (iv) the valve leaflets are sutured to such 35 arcuate shaped lattice members via such apertures or rings.

14. A method of crimping a stent according to claim 6 , which method includes the steps of:

causing primary deformation of the lattice members that induces: (i) relative angular displacement of the lattice members at their points of connection to 5 each other and general deformation of lattice members to a collapsed state; and

(ii) adjacent first non-linear members of adjacent first arms to contact each other; and

causing secondary deformation of the lattice members wherein further compression of the collapsed lattice members causes the stiffened portions of the first non-linear members of each first arm plastically to deform.

15. A method of crimping a stent according to claim 14 , further including the step of pinching adjacent stiffened portions of adjacent first non-linear members of adjacent first arms together, thereby causing such stiffened portions further to deform plastically.

16. A method of expanding a stent according to claim 6 , which method includes the steps of:

positioning the stent that has previously been crimped through a heart valve 20 with the first arms and the second arms extending past the free ends of the valve leaflets;

expanding a dilatation device within the stent to cause: (i) the stent to expand; and

(ii) the first and second arms to protrude radially relative to the adjacent 25 lattice members; and

displacing the stent axially relative to the valve to cause the first arms or the second arms to rest on the free ends of the valve leaflets, with the free ends of the resting first arms or second arms spaced from the intersection of the valve 30 leaflets and aortic root.