Helical Stent Design

Abstract

An expandable tubular reinforcing member used for body lumens such as blood vessels, the reinforcing member being formed of a continuous elongated helical element comprised of spaced undulating portions forming end loop portions and including a plurality of curvilinear connector elements extending between and interconnecting at least some of the adjacent undulating portions of the helical element over its length.

1 . A stent comprising at least one first band arranged spirally about a longitudinal axis of the stent, and a plurality of longitudinally extending connectors engaging adjacent spirals of said at least one first band, each longitudinally extending connector having at least one curve, wherein said first band includes a plurality of end portions and said connectors engage said end portions at locations other than their extreme ends. 
     
     
         2 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein ends of said connectors are circumferentially offset. 
     
     
         3 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein ends of the stent are diagonal relative to a longitudinal axis of the stent. 
     
     
         4 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein ends of the stent are squared off with respect to a longitudinal axis of the stent. 
     
     
         5 . The stent of  claim 4 , said first band having a varying length as measured from an end portion to an adjacent end portion. 
     
     
         6 . The stent of  claim 1 , said first band being in phase. 
     
     
         7 . The stent of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of said first band. 
     
     
         8 . The stent of  claim 7 , the stent further comprising at least one second band, said second bands forming ends of the stent and engaged to said first band by a plurality of curvilinear connectors. 
     
     
         9 . The stent of  claim 8 , wherein said first band has a first configuration and said second band has a second configuration different than the first configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The stent of  claim 1 , said first band being two first bands parallel to one another. 
     
     
         11 . A stent comprising:
 at least one continuous elongated helical element, the at least one continuous elongated helical element having undulating portions forming a serpentine configuration and extending substantially over the length of the stent; and   a plurality of connectors, each connector having at least one bend, the connectors extending between and interconnecting at least some of the undulating portions, wherein the connectors are attached to locations on the undulating portions other than the extreme ends of the undulating portions.   
     
     
         12 . The stent of  claim 11 , wherein the connectors include two bends. 
     
     
         13 . The stent of  claim 11 , comprising a plurality of elongated helical elements, the connectors connecting adjacent elongated helical elements. 
     
     
         14 . The stent of  claim 13 , comprising two elongated helical elements. 
     
     
         15 . The stent of  claim 11 , wherein the ends of the stent are squared off. 
     
     
         16 . The stent of  claim 11 , wherein the elongated helical element is in phase. 
     
     
         17 . A stent comprising:
 a plurality of first elements having undulating portions forming a serpentine configuration, the plurality of first elements extending helically about a longitudinal axis of the stent;   a plurality of first connectors extending between and interconnecting at least some of the undulating portions, each first connector having at least one bend, wherein the first connectors are attached to locations on the undulating portions other than the extreme ends of the undulating portions;   a first end element having undulating portions with turns forming a serpentine configuration, said serpentine configuration having a uniform distance along an entire length of said first end element, the uniform distance being measured from one turn to an adjacent turn, the first end element forming a first end of the stent;   a second end element having undulating portions with turns forming a serpentine configuration, said serpentine configuration having a uniform distance along an entire length of said second end element, the uniform distance being measured from one turn to an adjacent turn, the second end element forming a second end of the stent;   a plurality of second connectors interconnecting the first end element and the plurality of first elements; and   a plurality of third connectors interconnecting the second element and the plurality of first elements.   
     
     
         18 . The stent of  claim 17 , longitudinally adjacent first elements being out of phase. 
     
     
         19 . The stent of  claim 17 , wherein ends of said first connectors are circumferentially offset. 
     
     
         20 . The stent of  claim 17 , wherein each second connector has at least one bend and each third connector has at least one bend.