Endoluminal stent, self-supporting endoluminal graft and methods of making same

Abstract

An endoluminal stent composed of a plurality of first structural elements arrayed to form the circumference of the stent and extending along the longitudinal axis of the stent, and a plurality of second structural elements that interconnect adjacent pairs of first structural elements. The plurality of first structural elements have either a linear shape or a generally sinusoidal configuration with either a regular or irregular periodicity or regions of regular and regions of irregular periodicity between the peaks and troughs of the pattern, with the peaks and troughs projecting from the first structural elements in the circumferential axis. The plurality of second structural elements are generally linear or sinusoidal-shaped members which interconnect an apex of a peak of one of the plurality of first structural elements with an apex of a valley of a second and adjacent one of the plurality of first structural elements. Each of the plurality of second structural elements are generally oriented parallel to the circumferential axis of the stent.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An intraluminal stent comprising a generally tubular member having a plurality of first and second structural elements forming circumferential walls thereof, each of the plurality of first structural elements further having a generally sinusoidal curve thereto defining peaks and valleys of each of the plurality of first structural elements, each of the plurality of first structural elements extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal axis of the generally tubular member, each of the plurality of first structural elements being in spaced-apart in phase relationship with respect to an adjacent one of the plurality of structural elements about a circumferential aspect of the tubular member and the plurality of second structural elements further comprising interconnecting members interconnecting adjacent pairs of first structural elements and extending between a peak of a first one of the plurality of first structural elements and a trough of a second one of the plurality of first structural elements.  
     
     
         2 . The endoluminal stent according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of first structural elements further comprises a generally zig-zag configuration of the sinusoidal curve along the longitudinal axis of the tubular member.  
     
     
         3 . The endoluminal stent according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of first structural elements further comprises a semicircular section positioned at apices in the generally zig-zag configuration of the sinusoidal curve of each of the plurality of first structural elements.  
     
     
         4 . The endoluminal stent according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of first structural elements are integral and monolithic with each of the plurality of second structural elements.  
     
     
         5 . The endoluminal stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first structural elements are discrete from and conjoined to the plurality of second structural elements.  
     
     
         6 . The endoluminal stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second structural elements are made of the same material.  
     
     
         7 . The endoluminal stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second structural elements are made of different biocompatible materials.  
     
     
         8 . The endoluminal stent according to  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of first structural elements have material properties different and distinct from the plurality of second structural elements.  
     
     
         9 . The endoluminal stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second structural elements further comprise luminal surfaces thereof having controlled heterogeneities thereupon.  
     
     
         10 . The endoluminal stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second structural elements are made of materials selected from the group consisting of elemental titanium, vanadium, aluminum, nickel, tantalum, zirconium, chromium, silver, gold, silicon, magnesium, niobium, scandium, platinum, cobalt, palladium, manganese, molybdenum and alloys thereof, and nitinol and stainless steel.  
     
     
         11 . The endoluminal stent according to  claim 9 , wherein the controlled heterogeneities are selected from the group consisting of grain size, grain phase, grain material composition, stent material composition and surface topography.  
     
     
         12 . The endoluminal stent according to  claim 9 , wherein the controlled heterogeneities define polar and non-polar binding sites for binding blood plasma proteins.  
     
     
         13 . The endoluminal stent according to  claim 9 , wherein the controlled heterogeneity is selected from the group consisting of material grain size, material grain phase and material grain composition.  
     
     
         14 . An intraluminal stent comprising a generally tubular member having a plurality of first and second structural elements forming circumferential walls thereof, each of the plurality of first structural elements being oriented parallel to and extending substantially along an entire longitudinal axis of the intraluminal stent, and the plurality of second structural elements further comprising interconnecting members interconnecting adjacent pairs of first structural elements each of the plurality of second structural elements having a generally sinusoidal shape.  
     
     
         15 . The intraluminal stent according to claim  24 , wherein the plurality of second structural elements each further comprise generally U-shaped members and the plurality of second structural elements are in a regular in-line array about the circumference of the stent.  
     
     
         16 . The intraluminal stent according to claim  25 , wherein the generally U-shaped members further comprise a linear element at the apex of the U-shaped member that is parallel to the circumferential axis of the stent.  
     
     
         17 . The intraluminal stent according to claim  24 , wherein the plurality of second structural elements each further comprise generally S-shaped members and the plurality of second structural elements form a regular in-line array about the circumference of the stent.  
     
     
         18 . A self-supporting intraluminal graft, comprising a tubular metal wall member having a plurality of first structural elements oriented parallel relative to a longitudinal axis of the tubular metal wall member and a plurality of second structural elements oriented circumferentially about a circumference of the tubular metal wall member and a plurality of openings passing through the tubular metal wall member.