Stent pattern with figure-eights

Abstract

The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implanting in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen. The invention provides for an intravascular stent having a plurality of cylindrical rings connected by links. The rings have peaks and valleys from which extend straight and nonlinear bar arms, forming a figure-eight The links connecting the cylindrical rings may be straight, undulating, or include bounded apertures for additional flexibility.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A stent including a longitudinal axis and a plurality of connected cylindrical rings, with each ring having a plurality of peaks and valleys, comprising: 
 a plurality of generally straight bar arms connected to a plurality of nonlinear bar arms having at least one complete generally sine wave-shaped portion that includes an open loop, the connected bar arms defining 1) pairs of oppositely disposed open loops that form peaks and valleys, each open loop having a first end and a second end, and each oppositely disposed open loop having a first oppositely disposed end and a second oppositely disposed end, 2) a diagonal bar arm connecting the first end of each open loop to the second oppositely disposed end of the oppositely disposed open loop, and 3) wherein the second end of each open loop points toward but does not connect to the first oppositely disposed end of the oppositely disposed open loop.    
     
     
         2 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the straight and nonlinear bar arms have a first and second axis respectively, the axes being parallel to each other, and wherein an adjacent peak and valley in the same ring define a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent.  
     
     
         3 . An intravascular stent for use in a body lumen, comprising: 
 a plurality of adjacent cylindrical rings aligned along a longitudinal axis, each ring having proximal and distal ends, the ends defining a generally cylindrical wall extending circumferentially between the proximal and distal ring ends;    a plurality of non-linear bar arms comprising at least a portion of each ring, the non-linear bar arms being disposed at the proximal and distal ends of the rings and having proximal open loops with first and second proximal open loop ends and oppositely disposed distal open loops having first and second distal open loop ends;    wherein 1) the first proximal open loop end is diagonally connected to the second distal open loop end, and 2) the second proximal open loop end and the first distal open loop end generally point toward each other, such that 3) a proximal loop diagonally connected to a distal loop forms a figure eight; and    at least one connector joining each pair of adjacent rings.    
     
     
         4 . The stent of  claim 3 , wherein the connector is a weld.  
     
     
         5 . The stent of  claim 3 , wherein the figure-eight portions include a straight bar arm and portions of two non-linear bar arms.  
     
     
         6 . The stent of  claim 3 , wherein the nonlinear bar arms are of a generally sinusoidal shape.  
     
     
         7 . The stent of  claim 3 , wherein the straight bar arm also includes a nonlinear, flexible link portion.  
     
     
         8 . The stent of  claim 7 , wherein the flexible link portion includes a bounded aperture.  
     
     
         9 . An endovascular prosthesis, comprising: 
 a plurality of adjacent rings, each ring including linear bar arms connected to non-linear bar arms and a plurality of peaks and valleys defined by the connected linear and non-linear bar arms; and    at least one link between each adjacent pair of rings, the link being connected to central portion of a non-linear bar arm on each ring.    
     
     
         10 . The endovascular prosthesis of  claim 9 , wherein the linear bar arm and non-linear bar arm are parallel.  
     
     
         11 . The endovascular prosthesis of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one link includes a non-linear, flexible link portion.  
     
     
         12 . An expandable endovascular prosthesis, comprising: 
 a pair of expandable, undulating, end rings including figure-eight shaped members;    a plurality of interior, adjacent, expandable, undulating rings including figure-eight shaped members and disposed between the end rings;    a plurality of links connecting adjacent rings;    wherein each figure-eight member includes an intermediate bar arm and two adjacent portions of non-linear bar arms; and    wherein the connecting links include the non-linear bar arms and connect the figure-eights of two adjacent rings.    
     
     
         13 . The prosthesis of  claim 12 , wherein the figure-eights of each interior ring are circumferentially unconnected.  
     
     
         14 . The prosthesis of  claim 12 , wherein the figure-eights of the end rings are circumferentially connected.  
     
     
         15 . The prosthesis of  claim 14 , wherein each figure-eight of the end rings has a crest that is connected to the non-linear bar arm of an adjacent figure-eight.