Longitudinally flexible expandable stent

Abstract

Segmented articulatable stent of open structure comprised of end-connected struts of first and second lengths making up first and second segments with angular interconnects between adjacent first and second segments.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An expandable stent, comprising:
 a plurality of adjacent non-helical cylindrical elements axially spaced along a cylindrical axis and joined together by a plurality of connecting segments, wherein each connecting segment is nonparallel with respect to a cylindrical axis;   the cylindrical elements comprising a plurality of substantially linear portions joined together by a plurality of curved portions, wherein at least one cylindrical element includes a repeating pattern of a first segment alternating with a second segment, wherein each first segment is connected to exactly two connecting segments and consists of three substantially linear portions connected to each other by curved portions, wherein each second segment is connected to exactly two connecting segments and consists of five substantially linear portions connected to each other by curved portions; and   a plurality of expandable helical segments consisting of a plurality of the first segments connected by the connecting segments.   
     
     
         2 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the stent is in an unexpanded state. 
     
     
         3 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the stent is in an expanded state. 
     
     
         4 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the curved portions of at least two adjacent cylindrical elements are circumferentially offset from one another. 
     
     
         5 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein each cylindrical element is bounded by an upper plane and a lower plane parallel to the upper plane. 
     
     
         6 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein at least one connecting segment includes a linear portion forming an angle of approximately 14 degrees with respect to the cylindrical axis. 
     
     
         7 . An expandable stent, comprising:
 a plurality of expandable helical segments, each helical segment consisting of a plurality of first circumferential elements alternating with a plurality of connecting segments, each first circumferential element bound by and connected to two consecutive connecting segments and consisting of three substantially parallel linear portions connected by curved portions, each connecting segment including a linear segment set at a first angle greater than 0 degrees with respect to a cylindrical axis; and   a plurality of adjacent, non-helical cylindrical elements, each cylindrical element formed from a plurality of second circumferential elements alternating with the first circumferential elements, the cylindrical elements being attached to one another by the connecting segments.   
     
     
         8 . The stent of  claim 7 , wherein the second circumferential segments of at least two adjacent cylindrical elements are circumferentially offset from one another. 
     
     
         9 . The stent of  claim 7 , wherein at least one second circumferential segment consists of five linear portions joined together by curved portions. 
     
     
         10 . The stent of  claim 7 , wherein each cylindrical element forms an individual cylinder defining an upper planar boundary and a lower planar boundary parallel to the upper planar boundary. 
     
     
         11 . The stent of  claim 7 , wherein the first angle is at least approximately 14 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The stent of  claim 7 , wherein each of the three linear portions of at least one of the first circumferential elements are nonparallel to the cylindrical axis. 
     
     
         13 . The stent of  claim 7 , wherein the stent is in an unexpanded state. 
     
     
         14 . The stent of  claim 7 , wherein the stent is in an expanded state. 
     
     
         15 . An expandable stent, comprising:
 a plurality of expandable helical segments, each helical segment consisting of a plurality of circumferential elements and a plurality of connecting segments, each circumferential element bound by and connected to two consecutive connecting segments and consisting of three linear portions joined by curved portions, and each connecting segment including a linear segment set at a first angle with respect to a cylindrical axis; and   a plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements, each cylindrical element forming an individual cylinder defining an upper planar boundary and a lower planar boundary parallel to the upper planar boundary, each cylindrical element formed from a plurality of circumferential segments alternating with at least two of the circumferential elements, wherein at least one circumferential segment extends between two connecting segments and consists of five linear portions joined together by curved portions, wherein the circumferential segments of at least two adjacent cylindrical elements are circumferentially offset from one another, and wherein the cylindrical elements are attached to one another by the connecting segments.   
     
     
         16 . An expandable stent, comprising:
 a plurality of adjacent non-helical serpentine bands axially spaced along a cylindrical axis, the serpentine bands joined together by a plurality of connecting struts, wherein each connecting strut includes a substantially linear portion nonparallel with respect to a cylindrical axis;   the serpentine bands comprising a plurality of straight portions joined together by a plurality of curved portions, wherein at least one serpentine band includes a repeating pattern of a first segment alternating with a second segment, the first segment extending between and connected to exactly two connecting struts and consisting of three straight portions alternating with curved portions, the second segment extending between and connected to exactly two connecting struts and consisting of five straight portions alternating with curved portions;   a first helical segment consisting of a plurality of the first segments alternating with the connecting struts; and   a second helical segment consisting of a plurality of the second segments alternating with the connecting struts.   
     
     
         17 . The stent of  claim 16 , wherein the curved portions of at least two adjacent serpentine bands are circumferentially offset from one another. 
     
     
         18 . The stent of  claim 16 , wherein each serpentine band is bounded by an upper plane and a lower plane parallel to the upper plane. 
     
     
         19 . The stent of  claim 16 , wherein the three straight portions are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         20 . The stent of  claim 16 , wherein the five straight portions are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         21 . The stent of  claim 16 , wherein the stent is in an unexpanded state. 
     
     
         22 . The stent of  claim 16 , wherein the stent is in an expanded state. 
     
     
         23 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the three substantially linear portions are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         24 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the five substantially linear portions are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         25 . The stent of  claim 15 , wherein the curved portions of at least two adjacent cylindrical elements are circumferentially offset from one another. 
     
     
         26 . An expandable stent, comprising:
 a plurality of adjacent cylindrical-shaped segments aligned on a common longitudinal axis and interconnected by a plurality of interconnecting elements, wherein each interconnecting element is extending in an angular direction with respect to said common longitudinal axis;   the cylindrical-shaped segments comprise a plurality of members formed in an undulating flexible pattern of interconnected substantially parallel struts with pairs thereof having alternating elliptical or rounded interconnecting end portions;   wherein at least one cylindrical-shaped segment comprises an alternating pattern of first segments and second segments, wherein each first segment is connected to exactly two interconnecting elements and consists of three struts connected to each other by elliptical or rounded interconnecting end portions, wherein each second segment is connected to exactly two interconnecting elements and consists of five struts connected to each other by elliptical or rounded interconnecting end portions;   and a plurality of paths coursing angularly along the periphery of said stent between the proximal end of the stent and the distal end of the stent, and consisting of a plurality of said first segments interconnected by said interconnecting elements.   
     
     
         27 . The stent of  claim 26 , wherein the stent is in an unexpanded state. 
     
     
         28 . The stent of  claim 26 , wherein the stent is in an expanded state. 
     
     
         29 . The stent of  claim 26 , wherein the elliptical or rounded interconnecting end portions of at least two adjacent cylindrical elements are circumferentially offset from one another. 
     
     
         30 . The stent of  claim 26 , wherein each cylindrical-shaped segment is bounded by an upper plane and a lower plane parallel to the upper plane. 
     
     
         31 . An expandable stent, comprising:
 a plurality of serpentine band-like elements spaced along a common longitudinal axis, the serpentine band-like elements are interconnected by a plurality of interconnecting elements, wherein each interconnecting element is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis;   the serpentine band-like elements comprising a plurality of struts joined together by a plurality of curved end portions, wherein at least one serpentine band-like element includes a repeating pattern of a first segment alternating with a second segment, the first segment extending between and connected to exactly two interconnecting elements and consisting of three struts alternating with curved end portions, the second segment extending between and connected to exactly two interconnecting elements and consisting of five struts alternating with curved end portions;   a first path coursing angularly along the periphery of said stent between the proximal end of the stent and the distal end of the stent, and consisting of a plurality of said first segments alternating with said interconnecting elements; and   a second path coursing angularly along the periphery of said stent between the proximal end of the stent and the distal end of the stent, and consisting of a plurality of said second segments alternating with said interconnecting elements.   
     
     
         32 . The stent of  claim 31 , wherein the stent is in an unexpanded state. 
     
     
         33 . The stent of  claim 31 , wherein the stent is in an expanded state. 
     
     
         34 . The stent of  claim 31 , wherein the elliptical or rounded interconnecting end portions of at least two adjacent cylindrical elements are circumferentially offset from one another. 
     
     
         35 . The stent of  claim 31 , wherein each cylindrical-shaped segment is bounded by an upper plane and a lower plane parallel to the upper plane.