Bidirectional stent and method of use thereof
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11865021-B2
Publication Date
2024-01-09
Expiration Date
Abstract
A bidirectional twistable stent is disclosed. The stent comprises a cylinder-shaped stent body having a plurality of axially arranged rows of struts encircling a central lumen and a plurality of flex connectors that connect at least two adjacent rows of struts in such a manner that allows the stent to be twisted clockwise or counter clockwise without causing deformation of any struts in the stent body. Also disclosed are the method of making the stent, method of using the stent, and a kit containing the stent.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a bidirectional stent having a cylinder-shaped stent body. The stent body includes a plurality of axially arranged rows of struts encircling a central lumen, and alternating rows of s-shaped connectors and rows of opposite s-shaped connectors encircling the central lumen. The rows of struts form a wave-pattern with alternating peaks and troughs, where each peak has a tip and each trough has a bottom.
Each peak in a row of struts is connected at its tip to a peak at its tip in an adjacent row using an s-shaped connector or an opposite s-shaped connector. The s-shaped connectors in the same row have the same configuration, and alternating rows flank one another so that each row of s-shaped connectors is flanked by rows of opposite s-shaped connectors on both sides, and vice versa. Openings are positioned between each of the s-shaped connectors arranged in alternating rows.
When the stent is in a resting state, each peak in each row of struts is attached to one end of an s-shaped connector or an opposite s-shaped connector, with the other end attached to a facing peak of an adjacent row at an angle. Each of the s-shaped connectors or opposite s-shaped connectors has a body with a continuous curve and an inflexion point. When the stent is subject to twist, the rows of s-shaped connectors and opposite s-shaped connectors contract or expand in an alternating manner to form a peristaltic shape and a neck shape, where the neck shape has a lesser radius than the peristaltic shape at its greatest expanse, thus allowing reversible clockwise or counter-clockwise twisting by a full turn without causing permanent deformation of the struts and connectors.
Claims Coverage
The document includes one independent claim defining the bidirectional twistable stent, followed by dependent claims that refine connector geometry and add biodegradable coating features. The independent claim includes the core structural arrangement of the wave-pattern strut rows and alternating s-shaped and opposite s-shaped connector rows, and the reversible transformation behavior under twisting.
Wave-pattern cylinder with alternating s-shaped connector rows
A cylinder-shaped stent body with a plurality of axially arranged rows of struts encircling a central lumen and a plurality of axially arranged alternating rows of s-shaped connectors and rows of opposite s-shaped connectors encircling the central lumen; each row of struts forms a wave-pattern with alternating peaks and troughs; each peak is connected to a facing peak in an adjacent row via an s-shaped connector or opposite s-shaped connector; openings are between the s-shaped connectors arranged in alternating rows; each row of s-shaped connectors is flanked on both sides by rows of opposite s-shaped connectors and each row of opposite s-shaped connectors is flanked on both sides by rows of s-shaped connectors.
Alternating contraction/expansion to peristaltic and neck shapes under twist
When the stent is subject to twist, the rows of s-shaped connectors and opposite s-shaped connectors contract or expand in an alternating manner to form a peristaltic shape in the stent body; contracting connector rows form a neck shape and expanding connector rows form a peristaltic shape; the neck shape has a lesser radius than the radius of the peristaltic shape at its greatest expanse; thus the stent body is reversibly twisted clockwise or counter-clockwise from one end by a full turn without causing permanent deformation of the struts and the s-shaped connectors or opposite s-shaped connectors.
Overall claim coverage is directed to a bidirectional stent that uses wave-pattern strut rows with alternating s-shaped/opposite s-shaped connector rows, where twisting produces alternating contraction/expansion to form peristaltic and neck shapes with a lesser-radius neck, enabling reversible clockwise or counter-clockwise twisting by a full turn without permanent deformation.
Stated Advantages
Allows the stent body to be reversibly twisted clockwise or counter-clockwise by a full turn without causing permanent deformation of the struts and connectors.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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