Locking polymer stents

Abstract

Radially expandable implantable medical devices, such as stents, with locking elements are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A radially expandable intravascular stent comprising:
 a plurality of interconnected cells, at least one of the cells being a lockable cell, the lockable cell including:   a first locking element and a second locking element extending into the lockable cell, the first locking element and the second locking element are adapted to rotate towards each other from unlocked positions to locked positions when the stent radially expands allowing the locking elements to engage and lock in at least one locked position.   
     
     
         2 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the stent comprises a biostable and/or biodegradable polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the lockable cell is a closed cell. 
     
     
         4 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the lockable cell is a diamond-shaped cell. 
     
     
         5 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cells are arranged in a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical rings. 
     
     
         6 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein locking elements comprise locking arms having hook-like elements at or near their ends that engage and lock when the stent expands. 
     
     
         7 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second locking elements are aligned obliquely to the cylindrical and longitudinal axis of the stent such that the locking elements are aligned towards each other. 
     
     
         8 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the locked elements inhibit expansion of the stent beyond a locked radius.