Bidirectional stent and method of use thereof

Abstract

A bidirectional twistable stent is disclosed. The stent comprises a cylinder-shaped stent body having a plurality of axially arranged rows of struts encircling a central lumen and a plurality of flex connectors that connect at least two adjacent rows of struts in such a manner that allows the stent to be twisted clockwise or counter clockwise without causing deformation of any struts in the stent body. Also disclosed are the method of making the stent, method of using the stent, and a kit containing the stent.

1 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A method of using a bidirectional stent, comprising:
 placing the bidirectional stent at a treatment site in a compressed state; and   enlarging the stent to an expanded state at the treatment site to immobilize the stent, wherein the stent comprises:   a cylinder-shaped stent body comprising:
 a plurality of axially arranged rows of struts encircling a central lumen, wherein each of the rows of struts comprises struts inter-connected to form a wave-pattern with alternating peaks and troughs, wherein each peak has a tip and each trough has a bottom, and wherein the rows of struts form one or more row sections and wherein each row section comprises at least one row of struts; and 
 flex connectors that connect adjacent row sections, wherein each of the flex connectors comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to a bottom of a first trough in an edge row of struts of a first row section, the first trough has a first trough amplitude, wherein the second end is attached to a bottom of a second trough in an edge row of struts of a second row section, the second trough has a second trough amplitude, and wherein the first row section is adjacent to the second row section, 
 wherein each of the flex connectors comprise:
 a first arm comprising the first end, wherein the first arm has a length that is the same as, or longer than the first trough amplitude; 
 a second arm comprising the second end, wherein the second arm has a length that is the same as, or longer than the second trough amplitude; and 
 a middle section connecting the first arm to the second arm, 
 
 wherein the stent body is capable of being twisted clockwise or counter-clockwise from one end of the stent body by one-fourth of a turn, or more, without causing deformation of any struts and flex-connectors in the stent body. 
   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the middle section of the flex connector forms a first angle with the first arm of the flex connector and a second angle with the second arm of the flex connector, wherein the first angle is in a range of about 90-160 degrees and wherein the second angle is in a range of about 90-160 degrees. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the first angle is in a range of about 90-120 degrees and wherein the second angle is in a range of about 90-120 degrees. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein each row section contains two or more rows of struts. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein each row section contains two rows of struts. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the stent body contains three or more row sections. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein each row section is connected to an adjacent row section by three or more flex connectors. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein peaks in the same row of struts have the same peak amplitude and wherein troughs in the same row of struts have the same trough amplitude. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the struts and flex connectors are made from a metal or an alloy. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the struts and the flex connectors are made from nitinol. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the stent body is coated with a polymeric material. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the polymeric material is a biodegradable material. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the flex connectors allow the stent body to be twisted clockwise or counter-clockwise from one end of the stent body by ¼ of a turn without causing deformation of any struts and connectors in the stent body. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the flex connectors allow the stent body to be twisted clockwise or counter-clockwise from one end of the stent body by ½ of a turn without causing any deformation of the struts in the stent body. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the flex connectors allow the stent body to be twisted clockwise or counter-clockwise from one end of the stent body by a full turn without causing any deformation of the struts in the stent body.