Stent Cell Configurations

Abstract

A generally cylindrical, radially expandable stent may be composed of a plurality of interconnected multibonate cell structures. The cells have three or more enlarged end portions radiating from a common center within the cell. The cells may be of tribonate or higher order multibonate configuration. Stents composed up of a series of generally multibonate cell elements are also disclosed.

1 . A stent of generally cylindrical shape comprised of at least one multibonate cell structure. 
   
   
       2 . The stent of  claim 1  comprised of a plurality of interconnected multibonate cell structures. 
   
   
       3 . The stent of  claim 2  wherein the multibonate cell structures are regularly arranged. 
   
   
       4 . The stent of  claim 2  wherein all of the multibonate cell structures are tribonate, each tribonate structure having
 a common portion;   a first connecting portion extending from the common portion;   a first end portion extending from the first connecting portion;   a second connecting portion extending from the common portion;   a second end portion extending from the second connecting portion;   a third connecting portion extending from the common portion; and   a third end portion extending from the third connecting portion.   
   
   
       5 . The stent of  claim 4  wherein the multibonate structures are arranged in interconnected longitudinal rows. 
   
   
       6 . The stent of  claim 5  wherein at least some of the multibonate cell structures are tribonate. 
   
   
       7 . The stent of  claim 6  wherein adjacent rows of multibonate structures have connecting members extending therebetween. 
   
   
       8 . The stent of  claim 6  wherein adjacent multibonate structures within a row are interlocking. 
   
   
       9 . The stent of  claim 6  wherein adjacent rows of multibonate structures have connecting members extending therebetween, the connecting members being bonate cell structures. 
   
   
       10 . The stent of  claim 9  wherein each bonate cell structure is disposed at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       11 . The stent of  claim 10  wherein the bonate cell structures are arranged in longitudinal rows,
 all of the bonate cells within a row disposed at the same oblique angle,   bonate cell structures in adjacent rows of bonate structures oppositely disposed about a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent extending between the adjacent rows of bonate structures and equidistant from the adjacent rows of bonate structures.   
   
   
       12 . The stent of  claim 6  wherein all of the multibonate structures are tribonate and tribonate structures in adjacent rows of multibonate structures are rotated 180° relative to one another. 
   
   
       13 . The stent of  claim 6  wherein all of the multibonate structures are tribonate and tribonate structures in adjacent rows of multibonate structures are identically oriented relative to the longitudinal axis of the stent. 
   
   
       14 . The stent of  claim 6  wherein each multibonate structure is defined by a plurality of interconnected side portions and at least some of the multibonate structures have a side portion in common. 
   
   
       15 . The stent of  claim 14  wherein the multibonate structures are tribonate. 
   
   
       16 . The stent of  claim 15  wherein the multibonate structures are disposed in longitudinal rows and adjacent multibonate structures in adjacent rows of multibonate structures share at least one side portion in common. 
   
   
       17 . The stent of  claim 6  wherein the tribonate structure has a threefold rotational axis of symmetry in the flat. 
   
   
       18 . The stent of  claim 6  wherein the tribonate structure has a single plane of reflectional symmetry σ v . 
   
   
       19 . The stent of  claim 6  wherein the second and third connecting portions are substantially the same length. 
   
   
       20 . The stent of  claim 6  wherein all three connecting portions are substantially the same length.