Stent having removable anchoring element

Abstract

A stent comprising a radially expandable elongate tubular support structure, the elongate tubular support structure comprising an inner surface and an outer surface and an anchoring element disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the tubular support structure, the anchoring element is separate and removable from the elongate tubular support structure.

1 . A stent, the stent comprising:
 a radially expandable elongate tubular support structure comprising a wall having an inner surface and an outer surface; and   a plurality of individual anchoring elements each having a first end and a second end, wherein the anchoring elements are separate and removable from the radially expandable elongate tubular support structure, the plurality of anchoring elements are separate from each other and are disposed through the wall with the first and second ends extending from the outer surface of the tubular support structure.   
     
     
         2 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of individual anchoring elements are elongate elements with a middle portion between the first and second ends, wherein the middle portion is disposed on the inner surface of the tubular support structure. 
     
     
         3 . The stent of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of anchoring elements are configured to be disposed through the wall such that each individual anchoring element is spaced apart from adjacent anchoring elements. 
     
     
         4 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular support structure comprises a braided, woven or knit structure, and the plurality of anchoring elements are each woven into and out of the braided, woven or knit structure such that each anchoring element enters and exits through the braided, woven or knit structure. 
     
     
         5 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of individual anchoring elements are disposed on one end of the tubular support structure. 
     
     
         6 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of individual anchoring elements are disposed around a middle portion of the tubular support structure. 
     
     
         7 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring elements are U-shaped. 
     
     
         8 . The stent of  claim 1 , further comprising an additional anchor that is woven into and out of the wall. 
     
     
         9 . The stent of  claim 8 , wherein the additional anchor is an elongate element that enters, exits, and re-enters the wall repeatedly around a circumference of the tubular support structure. 
     
     
         10 . The stent of  claim 9 , wherein the additional anchor is disposed around a middle portion of the tubular support structure. 
     
     
         11 . The stent of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of anchoring elements are disposed at one end of the tubular support structure. 
     
     
         12 . A stent, the stent comprising:
 a radially expandable elongate tubular support structure having an inner surface and an outer surface; and   a plurality of individual anchoring elements disposed through the tubular support structure, each anchoring element having a first end, a second end and a middle portion therebetween,   wherein the anchoring elements are separate from and removable from the tubular support structure.   
     
     
         13 . The stent of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of anchoring elements are disposed through the tubular support structure with the first and second ends extending from the outer surface of the tubular support structure. 
     
     
         14 . The stent of  claim 13 , wherein the anchoring elements are U-shaped. 
     
     
         15 . The stent of  claim 14 , wherein the middle portion is disposed on the inner surface. 
     
     
         16 . The stent of  claim 12 , further comprising an additional anchor that is woven into and out of the tubular support structure. 
     
     
         17 . The stent of  claim 16 , wherein the additional anchor is an elongate element that enters, exits, and re-enters the tubular support structure repeatedly around a circumference of the tubular support structure. 
     
     
         18 . A stent, the stent comprising:
 a tubular support structure, the tubular support structure comprising a wall having an inner surface and an outer surface; and   a plurality of individual first anchoring elements each having a first end and a second end, wherein the anchoring elements are separate and removable from the tubular support structure, the plurality of anchoring elements are separate from each other and are disposed through the wall with at least one of the first and second ends extending from the outer surface of the tubular support structure.   
     
     
         19 . The stent of  claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of first anchor elements has a middle portion between the first and second ends, wherein the middle portion of each first anchor element is disposed on the inner surface of the tubular support structure. 
     
     
         20 . The stent of  claim 18 , further comprising a second anchoring element woven into and out of the tubular support structure.