The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 31, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 26, 1996
Paul J Fordenbacher, Minneapolis, MN (US);
SciMed Life Systems, Inc., Maple Grove, MN (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a lumen support device, or a stent, used to open or expand a body lumen. The stent incorporates elongated parallel stent components with circumferential members, fingers, which weave into paired slots of an adjacent stent component. This weave-like interlocking configuration enables the stent to expand radially without yielding or plastically deforming the material of which the stent is fabricated. The weave-like mechanism allows for uniform, smooth expansion without change in longitudinal dimensions of the complete assembly. Once assembled, the plurality of parallel elongated stent components form a cylindrical configuration. The invention provides a stent able to support body lumens and adapt to curves or irregularities in body lumens without losing its formation or its longitudinal dimensions. It is designed to permit flexing both radially and longitudinally to conform to the curved body of the applicable lumen. The device is delivered using a percutaneous transluminal catheter device which may incorporate an inflatable balloon, self-expanding material or both to expand the stent.