Vascular stents and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016367388-A1
Application number	US-201615057935-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 1, 2016
Priority date	Oct 1, 2012
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vascular stent assembly includes at least a first and a second strut, each including a thickness and a depth. The assembly includes a pair of end radii, with each of the first and second struts extending from one of the pair of end radii. A thickness of at least one of the first and second struts includes a tapering profile extending from one of the end radii to another of the end radii, the tapering profile following a continuously increasing or decreasing function through at least half a length of the at least one strut.

First claim

1 . A vascular stent assembly, comprising:
at least a first and a second strut, each including a thickness and a depth; and a pair of end radii, each of the first and second struts extending from one of the pair of end radii; wherein a thickness of at least one of the first and second struts includes a tapering profile extending from one of the end radii to another of the end radii, the tapering profile following a continuously increasing or decreasing function through at least half a length of the at least one strut; and wherein wherein the assembly is formed from a material selected from a ceramic material, a shape memory alloy, a nitinol, or stainless steel.

2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tapering profile continuously decreases from one of the end radii to a midpoint of the strut, then continuously increasing from the midpoint of the strut to the other of the end radii.

3 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tapering profile is a curvilinear profile.

4 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tapering profile is a sloped line.

5 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tapering profile is convex.

6 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tapering profile is concave.

7 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein one face of the strut is substantially unsloped, and wherein an opposing face of the strut includes the tapering profile.

8 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein opposing faces of the strut each include a tapering profile.

9 . (canceled)

10 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein a depth of at least one of the struts can vary along a length of the strut as the thickness of the strut varies.

11 . A vascular stent assembly, comprising:
a series of struts, each including a length, a thickness and a depth; and a series of end radii, each of the struts extending between one end radius on one end of the strut and another end radius on another end of the strut; wherein a thickness of each of the struts includes a tapering profile extending from one end of the strut to another end of the strut, the thickness of the tapering profile continuously increasing or decreasing along the length of the strut through at least half a length of the strut; wherein the depth of each of the struts being substantially constant along the length of the strut; and wherein wherein the assembly is formed from a material selected from a ceramic material, a shape memory alloy, a nitinol, or stainless steel.

12 . The assembly of claim 11 , wherein each strut includes an upper face and a lower, opposing face, and wherein each of the upper face and the lower face include a tapering profile through at least half a length of the strut.

13 . The assembly of claim 11 , wherein each strut includes an upper face and a lower, opposing face, and wherein only one of the upper face and the lower face includes a tapering profile through at least half a length of the strut.

14 . The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the tapering profile is a curvilinear profile.

15 . The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the tapering profile is a sloped line.

16 . The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the tapering profile is convex.

17 . The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the tapering profile is concave.

18 . (canceled)

19 . The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the series of struts and end radii comprise a contiguous unit.

Assignees

• Univ Brigham Young

Inventors

• Skousen Darrell J
• Jensen Brian D
• Bowden Anton E

Classifications

• A61F2002/91583

  by a bridge, whereby at least one of its ends is connected along the length of a strut between two consecutive apices within a band · CPC title

• A61L31/146

  Porous materials, e.g. foams or sponges · CPC title

• A61F2250/0036

  differing in thickness · CPC title

• A61F2002/91575

  connected peak to trough · CPC title

• A61F2002/91558

  connected peak to peak · CPC title