Stent with coated struts

Abstract

A medical stent may include a tubular support structure including a plurality of struts defining a plurality of cells disposed between the plurality of struts. A polymeric coating may be disposed over the tubular support structure such that a first portion of the plurality of cells are closed by the polymeric coating in a first region of the tubular support structure and a second portion of the plurality of cells in a second region of the tubular support structure remain open to fluid flow and/or tissue ingrowth therethrough. The struts in the first region of the tubular support structure and the struts in the second region of the tubular support structure may be at least partially covered by the polymeric coating.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical stent comprising:
 a tubular support structure including a plurality of struts, the plurality of struts defining a plurality of cells disposed between the plurality of struts; and   a polymeric coating disposed over the tubular support structure defining a plurality of closed cells that are completely covered by the polymeric coating, and a plurality of open cells that are open to allow fluid flow or tissue ingrowth therethrough;   wherein the polymeric coating extends over and laterally beyond each of the plurality of struts and partially into each of the plurality of open cells.   
     
     
         2 . The medical stent of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of struts defining the plurality of closed cells and the plurality of struts defining the plurality of open cells are encapsulated by the polymeric coating. 
     
     
         3 . The medical stent of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric coating is formed by covering the tubular support structure with the polymeric coating and subsequently removing part of the polymeric coating spanning a plurality of the plurality of cells to create the plurality of open cells. 
     
     
         4 . The medical stent of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric coating is formed by encapsulating the plurality of struts and subsequently coating some of the plurality of cells to create the plurality of closed cells. 
     
     
         5 . The medical stent of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric coating is formed by placing the tubular support structure over a mandrel and then spray coating the tubular support structure, wherein the mandrel includes raised portions contacting the tubular support structure to define the plurality of closed cells and portions spaced from the tubular support structure to define the plurality of open cells. 
     
     
         6 . The medical stent of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of closed cells are located in at least a first region of the tubular support structure, and the plurality of open cells are located in at least a second region of the tubular support structure. 
     
     
         7 . The medical stent of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of closed cells are located in at least first and second regions of the tubular support structure, and the plurality of open cells are located in at least third and fourth regions of the tubular support structure, wherein the third region is disposed between the first and second regions. 
     
     
         8 . The medical stent of  claim 7 , wherein the fourth region is adjacent the second region. 
     
     
         9 . The medical stent of  claim 7 , further comprising a fifth region of closed cells disposed adjacent the fourth region. 
     
     
         10 . The medical stent of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular support structure is a woven, braided or knitted structure. 
     
     
         11 . The medical stent of  claim 1 , wherein some of the plurality of closed cells are adjacent to some of the plurality of open cells, and some of the plurality of closed cells are adjacent to only other closed cells. 
     
     
         12 . The medical stent of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of closed cells is adjacent to at least one of the plurality of open cells. 
     
     
         13 . The medical stent of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric coating comprises polyurethane or silicone. 
     
     
         14 . A medical stent comprising:
 a metallic support structure including a plurality of struts defining inter-strut spaces therebetween, the plurality of struts together defining a shape of the metallic support structure; and   a cushioning material encapsulating at least some of the plurality of struts;   wherein the cushioning material extends laterally beyond the plurality of struts and partially into at least some of the inter-strut spaces adjacent struts encapsulated by the cushioning material.   
     
     
         15 . The medical stent of  claim 14 , further comprising a polymeric layer completely spanning at least some of the inter-strut spaces. 
     
     
         16 . The medical stent of  claim 15 , wherein the cushioning material comprises a first polymeric material, and the polymeric layer comprises the first polymeric material. 
     
     
         17 . The medical stent of  claim 14 , wherein the cushioning material comprises polyurethane or silicone. 
     
     
         18 . A medical stent comprising:
 a tubular support structure including a plurality of struts, the plurality of struts defining a plurality of cells disposed between the plurality of struts, each of the cells extending from an outer surface of the tubular support structure to an inner surface of the tubular support structure; and   a polymeric coating coated onto the plurality of struts of the tubular support structure such that some of the plurality of cells are closed by the polymeric coating and some of the plurality of cells remain open to fluid flow or tissue ingrowth therethrough;   wherein at least some of the plurality of struts coated with the polymeric coating extend between adjacent open cells.   
     
     
         19 . The medical stent of  claim 18 , wherein the polymeric coating extends laterally beyond the plurality of struts coated with the polymeric coating and partially into the open cells. 
     
     
         20 . The medical stent of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of struts are encapsulated by the polymeric coating.