Longitudinally and radially flexible anastomosis stent

Abstract

An anastomosis stent includes an elongated body of a tubular configuration having a length and diameter dimensions extending in axial and radial directions of the elongated body and in a transverse relationship to each other. The elongated body is formed by multiple rings stacked adjacent one another in a direction parallel to the length dimension. Each ring is a single strand of wire bent in a repetitive pattern of sine waves. Each sine wave defines an alternating peak and valley divided by a length dimension extending orthogonal to the length dimension of the elongated body. The rings are fused together at locations on selected pairs of adjacent peaks and valleys of the rings with the fused locations arranged in parallel rows. The elongated body includes main and end portion and a safety mark about the elongated body at the juncture therebetween.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An anastomosis stent, comprising:
 an elongated body of a tubular configuration and having a length dimension extending in an axial direction of said elongated body and a diameter dimension extending in a radial direction of said elongated body being in a transverse relationship to said axial direction of said elongated body;   said elongated body being formed by a multiplicity of rings stacked adjacent to one another in a direction parallel to said length dimension of said elongated body, each of said rings being formed by a single strand of wire bent in a repetitive pattern of sine waves;   each of said sine waves defining an alternating peak and valley divided by a length dimension extending orthogonal to said length dimension of said elongated body; and   said multiplicity of rings being fused to one another at locations on selected pairs of adjacent peaks and valleys of said sine waves in said single strand of wire of each of said rings so as to provide flexibility of said rings in said radial direction relative to said axial direction of said elongated body.   
     
     
         2 . The anastomosis stent of  claim 1  wherein said single wire of each of said rings is made of a nitinol alloy that is coated with an antibacterial and polymeric substance. 
     
     
         3 . The anastomosis stent of  claim 1  wherein said alternating peaks and valleys of said repetitive sine waves of said single strand of wire of a given ring being reversed in adjacent ones of said rings extending along opposite upper and lower sides of said given ring. 
     
     
         4 . The anastomosis stent of  claim 3  wherein said fused locations on said selected pairs of adjacent peaks and valleys of the rings are displaced circumferentially from each other. 
     
     
         5 . The anastomosis stent of  claim 4  wherein said fused locations are displaced from each other through a distance equal to one-half of said length dimension of each sine wave in said single strand of wire of each ring. 
     
     
         6 . The anastomosis stent of  claim 1  wherein said fused locations are aligned in a plurality of rows that each intersects said length dimension of said elongated body at an acute angle. 
     
     
         7 . The anastomosis stent of  claim 6  wherein said plurality of rows of fused locations intersect said length dimension of said elongated body at the same acute angle such that said plurality of rows extend parallel to each other. 
     
     
         8 . The anastomosis stent of  claim 7  wherein said elongated body also has opposite front and rear sides respectively disposed distally and proximally of a clot in an occluded vessel after implanting said elongated body within a bypass graft in an anastomosis procedure. 
     
     
         9 . The anastomosis stent of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of rows of fused locations pass about said rear side of said elongated body at a height above where said plurality of rows of fused locations pass about said front side of said elongated body.