Covered stent with encapsulated ends

Abstract

A covered stent including a stent covered on a first surface by a continuous covering and on a second surface by a discontinuous covering, the discontinuous covering bonded to the continuous covering, the discontinuous covering including first and second rings of material spaced apart such that a region of the second surface is uncovered.

1 . A covered stent, comprising: 
 a stent formed from a tube, the stent including a plurality of rings arranged along a longitudinal axis from a first end of the stent to a second end of the stent, adjacent rings having one or more joining points;    a continuous covering positioned over a first surface of the stent from the first end of the stent to the second end of the stent; and    a discontinuous covering positioned over a second surface of the stent and bonded to the continuous covering, the discontinuous covering including first and second rings of material spaced apart such that a region of the second surface is uncovered.    
   
   
       2 . The covered stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the stent is an inner surface of the stent and the second surface of the stent is an outer surface of the stent.  
   
   
       3 . The covered stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the first ring of material is adjacent the first end of the stent and the second ring of material is adjacent the second end of the stent.  
   
   
       4 . The covered stent according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first extremity of the stent that defines an outer perimeter greater than an outer perimeter of the stent at any potion of the stent from the first end to the second end thereof upon expansion of the stent.  
   
   
       5 . The covered stent according to  claim 4 , wherein the first extremity is not covered.  
   
   
       6 . The covered stent according to  claim 4 , further comprising a second extremity of the stent that defines an outer perimeter substantially equal to the outer perimeter of the first extremity upon expansion of the stent.  
   
   
       7 . The covered stent according to  claim 6 , wherein the first and second extremities are not covered.  
   
   
       8 . The covered stent according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first extremity of the stent that includes a plurality of projections and recessions extending along a longitudinal axis defined by the surfaces of the stent.  
   
   
       9 . The covered stent according to  claim 8 , further comprising a second extremity of the stent that includes a plurality of projections and recessions extending along a longitudinal axis defined by the surfaces of the stent.  
   
   
       10 . The covered stent according to  claim 9 , wherein the projections are configured to anchor the stent within a vessel upon expansion of the stent therein.  
   
   
       11 . The covered stent according to  claim 9 , wherein the first and second extremities are not covered.  
   
   
       12 . The covered stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the tube comprises a shape memory material.  
   
   
       13 . The covered stent according to  claim 12 , wherein the shape memory material comprises Nitinol.  
   
   
       14 . The covered stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the continuous covering and the discontinuous covering comprise ePTFE.  
   
   
       15 . The covered stent according to  claim 13 , wherein the discontinuous covering comprises one or more strips of ePTFE positioned over the second surface of the stent between the first ring of material and the second ring of material.  
   
   
       16 . The covered stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the ring stents comprise a plurality of zigzag struts, the struts having a thickness approximately equivalent to the thickness of the tube.  
   
   
       17 . The covered stent according to  claim 16 , wherein adjacent ring stents are joined by joining points spaced six struts apart.  
   
   
       18 . The covered stent according to  claim 16 , wherein a given ring stent is joined to one of a first and second adjacent ring stent by a joining point every third strut, alternating between the first and second adjacent ring stents such that six struts separate the joining points between the given ring stent and the first adjacent ring stent and between the given ring stent and the second adjacent ring stent.  
   
   
       19 . A covered stent, comprising: 
 a stent formed from a tube with portions removed such that when expanded, the stent includes a plurality of openings through a wall thereof;    a continuous covering positioned over a first surface of the stent from a first end of the stent to a second end of the stent; and    a discontinuous covering positioned over a second surface of the stent and bonded to the continuous covering through the plurality of openings, the discontinuous covering including strips of material arranged in a pattern such that a region of the second surface is uncovered.    
   
   
       20 . A method of making a covered stent, comprising: 
 removing portions of a generally tubular structure to define a plurality of rings arranged along a longitudinal axis from a first end of the structure to a second end of the structure, adjacent rings having one or more joining points;    disposing a continuous covering over a first surface of the stent from the first end to the second end;    locating first and second rings of material over a second surface of the stent; and    bonding the first and second rings of material to the continuous covering so that a region of the second surface is not covered.