Radially expansible vessel scaffold and assembly for its delivery

Abstract

The present invention provides improved prostheses and methods for their endolumenal placement within body lumens, particularly blood vessels. In one embodiment, the prosthesis of the present invention comprises a plurality of radially expansible rings having, a plurality of beams connecting axially remote points on adjacent rings, and a plurality of expansion joints connecting axially proximate points on adjacent rings. The beams maintain the remote points at a fixed distance when the prosthesis is radially expanded and the expansion joints allow for relative movement of the proximate points during delivery of the prosthesis. The combination of the beams and expansion joints minimizes the risk of injury to the body lumen during delivery of the prosthesis to a target site and provides improved tracking capabilities.

1 . An expandable tubular stent comprising: 
 an expandable tubular body having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical wall sections including a first cylindrical wall section at one end of the tubular body formed at least in part by an undulated structure and at least one intermediate cylindrical wall section formed at least in part by an undulated structure adjacent to the first cylindrical wall sections, and    at least one S-shaped connector which extends between and is secured to an undulation of the first cylindrical wall section and an undulation of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section and which is configured to provide both expansion and contraction.    
   
   
       2 . The expandable tubular stent of  claim 1 , wherein one end of the S-shaped connector is secured to a bend point of an undulation of the first cylindrical wall section at a location off-set from the most proximate portion of the bend point of the undulation and wherein an opposite end of the S-shaped connector is secured to a bend point of an undulation of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section at a location off-set from the most proximate portion of the bend point.  
   
   
       3 . An expandable tubular stent comprising: 
 an expandable tubular body having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical wall sections including a first cylindrical wall section at one end of the tubular body formed at least in part by an undulated structure and at least one intermediate cylindrical wall section formed at least in part by an undulated structure adjacent to the first cylindrical wall sections, and    at least connector which is formed at least in part by an S-shaped structure and which extends between and is secured to an undulation of the first cylindrical wall section and an undulation of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section.    
   
   
       4 . An expandable tubular stent comprising: 
 an expandable tubular body having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical wall sections including a first cylindrical wall section at one end of the tubular body formed at least in part by an undulated structure and at least one intermediate cylindrical wall section formed at least in part by an undulated structure adjacent to the first cylindrical wall sections, and    at least one connector which is formed at least in part by a structure having at least one double curvature and which extends between and is secured to an undulation of the first cylindrical wall section and an undulation of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section.    
   
   
       5 . An expandable tubular stent comprising: 
 an expandable tubular body having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical wall sections including a first cylindrical wall section at one end of the tubular body formed at least in part by a serpentine structure and at least one intermediate cylindrical wall section formed at least in part by a serpentine structure adjacent to the first cylindrical wall sections, and    at least one S-shaped connector which extends between and is secured to a protruding element of the first cylindrical wall section and a protruding element of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section and which is configured to provide both expansion and contraction.    
   
   
       6 . The expandable tubular stent of  claim 5 , wherein one end of the S-shaped connector is secured to a bend point of the protruding element of the first cylindrical wall section at a location off-set from the most proximate portion of the bend point of the protruding element and wherein an opposite end of the S-shaped connector is secured to a bend point of a protruding element of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section at a location off-set from the most proximate portion of the bend point.  
   
   
       7 . An expandable tubular stent comprising: 
 an expandable tubular body having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical wall sections including a first cylindrical wall section at one end of the tubular body formed at least in part by a serpentine structure and at least one intermediate cylindrical wall section formed at least in part by a serpentine structure adjacent to the first cylindrical wall sections, and    at least connector which is formed at least in part by an S-shaped structure and which extends between and is secured to a protruding element of the first cylindrical wall section and a protruding element of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section.    
   
   
       8 . An expandable tubular stent comprising: 
 an expandable tubular body having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical wall sections including a first cylindrical wall section at one end of the tubular body formed at least in part by a serpentine structure and at least one intermediate cylindrical wall section formed at least in part by a serpentine structure adjacent to the first cylindrical wall sections, and    at least one connector which is formed at least in part by a structure having at least one double curvature and which extends between and is secured to a protruding element of the first cylindrical wall section and a protruding element of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section.    
   
   
       9 . A catheter/prosthesis assembly comprising: 
 a catheter body having a prosthesis delivery balloon:    an expandable tubular body having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical wall sections including a first cylindrical wall section at one end of the tubular body formed at least in part by an undulated structure and at least one intermediate cylindrical wall section formed at least in part by an undulated structure adjacent to the first cylindrical wall sections, and    at least one S-shaped connector which extends between and is secured to an undulation of the first cylindrical wall section and an undulation of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section and which is configured to provide both expansion and contraction.    
   
   
       10 . The catheter/prosthesis assembly of  claim 9 , wherein one end of the S-shaped connector is secured to a bend point of an undulation of the first cylindrical wall section at a location off-set from the most proximate portion of the bend point of the undulation and wherein an opposite end of the S-shaped connector is secured to a bend point of an undulation of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section at a location off-set from the most proximate portion of the bend point.  
   
   
       11 . A catheter/prosthesis assembly comprising: 
 a catheter body having a prosthesis delivery balloon:    an expandable tubular body having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical wall sections including a first cylindrical wall section at one end of the tubular body formed at least in part by an undulated structure and at least one intermediate cylindrical wall section formed at least in part by an undulated structure adjacent to the first cylindrical wall sections, and    at least connector which is formed at least in part by an S-shaped structure and which extends between and is secured to an undulation of the first cylindrical wall section and an undulation of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section.    
   
   
       12 . A catheter/prosthesis assembly comprising: 
 a catheter body having a prosthesis delivery balloon;    an expandable tubular body having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical wall sections including a first cylindrical wall section at one end of the tubular body formed at least in part by an undulated structure and at least one intermediate cylindrical wall section formed at least in part by an undulated structure adjacent to the first cylindrical wall sections, and    at least one connector which is formed at least in part by a structure having at least one double curvature and which extends between and is secured to an undulation of the first cylindrical wall section and an undulation of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section.    
   
   
       13 . A catheter/prosthesis assembly comprising: 
 a catheter body having a prosthesis delivery balloon:    an expandable tubular body having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical wall sections including a first cylindrical wall section at one end of the tubular body formed at least in part by a serpentine structure and at least one intermediate cylindrical wall section formed at least in part by a serpentine structure adjacent to the first cylindrical wall sections, and    at least one S-shaped connector which extends between and is secured to a protruding element of the first cylindrical wall section and a protruding element of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section and which is configured to provide both expansion and contraction.    
   
   
       14 . The catheter/prosthesis assembly of  claim 13 , wherein one end of the S-shaped connector is secured to a bend point of the protruding element of the first cylindrical wall section at a location off-set from the most proximate portion of the bend point of the protruding element and wherein an opposite end of the S-shaped connector is secured to a bend point of a protruding element of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section at a location off-set from the most proximate portion of the bend point.  
   
   
       15 . A catheter/prosthesis assembly comprising: 
 a catheter body having a prosthesis delivery balloon:    an expandable tubular body having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical wall sections including a first cylindrical wall section at one end of the tubular body formed at least in part by a serpentine structure and at least one intermediate cylindrical wall section formed at least in part by a serpentine structure adjacent to the first cylindrical wall sections, and    at least connector which is formed at least in part by an S-shaped structure and which extends between and is secured to a protruding element of the first cylindrical wall section and a protruding element of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section.    
   
   
       16 . A catheter/prosthesis assembly comprising: 
 a catheter body having a prosthesis delivery balloon:    an expandable tubular body having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical wall sections including a first cylindrical wall section at one end of the tubular body formed at least in part by a serpentine structure and at least one intermediate cylindrical wall section formed at least in part by a serpentine structure adjacent to the first cylindrical wall sections, and    at least one connector which is formed at least in part by a structure having at least one double curvature and which extends between and is secured to a protruding element of the first cylindrical wall section and a protruding element of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section.