Abstract: An intravascular stent especially suited for implanting in curved arterial portions. The stent retains longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The stent is formed of intertwined meander patterns forming triangular cells. The triangular cells are adapted to provide radial support, and also to provide longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The triangular cells provide increased coverage of a vessel wall. The stent can have different portions adapted to optimize radial support or to optimize longitudinal flexibility. Loops in the stent are disposed and adapted to cooperate so that after expansion of said stent within a curved lumen, the stent is curved and cells on the outside of the curve open in length, but narrow in width whereas cells on the inside of the curve shorten in length but thicken in width to maintain a density of stent element area which much more constant than otherwise between the inside and the outside of the curve.

Abstract: An intravascular stent especially suited for implanting in curved arterial portions. The stent retains longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The stent is formed of intertwined meander patterns forming triangular cells. The triangular cells are adapted to provide radial support, and also to provide longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The triangular cells provide increased coverage of a vessel wall. The stent can have different portions adapted to optimize radial support or to optimize longitudinal flexibility. The stent can be adapted to prevent flaring of portions of the stent during insertion.

Abstract: An intravascular stent especially suited for implanting in curved arterial portions. The stent retains longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The stent is formed of intertwined meander patterns forming triangular cells. The triangular cells are adapted to provide radial support, and also to provide longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The triangular cells provide increased coverage of a vessel wall. The stent can have different portions adapted to optimize radial support or to optimize longitudinal flexibility. Loops in the stent are disposed and adapted to cooperate so that after expansion of said stent within a curved lumen, the stent is curved and cells on the outside of the curve open in length, but narrow in width whereas cells on the inside of the curve shorten in length but thicken in width to maintain a density of stent element area which much more constant than otherwise between the inside and the outside of the curve.

Abstract: An intravascular stent especially suited for implanting in curved arterial portions. The stent retains longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The stent is formed of intertwined meander patterns forming triangular cells. The triangular cells are adapted to provide radial support, and also to provide longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The triangular cells provide increased coverage of a vessel wall. The stent can have different portions adapted to optimize radial support or to optimize longitudinal flexibility. Loops in the stent are disposed and adapted to cooperate so that after expansion of said stent within a curved lumen, the stent is curved and cells on the outside of the curve open in length, but narrow in width whereas cells on the inside of the curve shorten in length but thicken in width to maintain a density of stent element area which much more constant than otherwise between the inside and the outside of the curve.

Abstract: Disclosed is a stent having struts with reverse direction curvature for providing a reduced compressed profile and an increased expanded profile. The strut configuration comprises a plurality of arcuate sections facing in opposite convex and a concave orientation. The strut width may be gradually decreased from its ends towards the strut's mid-section to redistribute maximal strains away from portions of the stent more susceptible to permanent deformation, such as the loop portions. Varying strut lengths to offset the maximum circumferential widths of adjacent portions of the stent may further reduce the compressed stent profile. The varied stent lengths may also contribute to an increased expanded stent profile. Stents with the reverse direction curvature strut design can obtain an expanded to compressed stent diameter ratio of about 7:1 compared to conventional stents that have a ratio of up to about 5:1. The curved strut can be utilized with any stent design.

Abstract: An intravascular stent especially suited for implanting in curved arterial portions. The stent retains longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The stent is formed of intertwined meander patterns forming triangular cells. The triangular cells are adapted to provide radial support, and also to provide longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The triangular cells provide increased coverage of a vessel wall. The stent can have different portions adapted to optimize radial support or to optimize longitudinal flexibility. The stent can be adapted to prevent flaring of portions of the stent during insertion.

Abstract: An intravascular stent especially suited for implanting in curved arterial portions. The stent retains longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The stent is formed of intertwined meander patterns forming triangular cells. The triangular cells are adapted to provide radial support, and also to provide longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The triangular cells provide increased coverage of a vessel wall. The stent can have different portions adapted to optimize radial support or to optimize longitudinal flexibility. Loops in the stent are disposed and adapted to cooperate so that after expansion of said stent within a curved lumen, the stent is curved and cells on the outside of the curve open in length, but narrow in width whereas cells on the inside of the curve shorten in length but thicken in width to maintain a density of stent element area which much more constant than otherwise between the inside and the outside of the curve.

Abstract: An intravascular stent especially suited for implanting in curved arterial portions. The stent retains longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The stent is formed of intertwined meander patterns forming triangular cells. The triangular cells are adapted to provide radial support, and also to provide longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The triangular cells provide increased coverage of a vessel wall. The stent can have different portions adapted to optimize radial support or to optimize longitudinal flexibility. Loops in the stent are disposed and adapted to cooperate so that after expansion of said stent within a curved lumen, the stent is curved and cells on the outside of the curve open in length, but narrow in width whereas cells on the inside of the curve shorten in length but thicken in width to maintain a density of stent element area which much more constant than otherwise between the inside and the outside of the curve.

Abstract: An ophthalmic implant for treatment of glaucoma, a delivery device for implanting such an implant, and a method of implanting such an implant. The implant includes a tube having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a tube passage therebetween, and a flange connected to the tube at the outlet end of the tube. The tube at its inlet end may have a beveled surface facing away from the iris and one or more circumferential holes. The implant may be implanted by use of a delivery device comprising a handle and rodlike instrument,with a tip for insertion into the tube passage of the implant.

Abstract: A stent for implanting in the body to hold open a blood vessel includes cells with facing loops and the curved flexible links disposed and adapted to cooperate so that, when unexpanded, the stent can flex as it is moved through curved blood vessels to a site where it is to be expanded and so that, when the stent is expanded in a curved vessel, at that site, as compared to each other, cells on the outside of the curve are open in length, but narrow in width as compared to cells on the inside of the curve which are short in length but increased in width to result in a more constant stent cell area between the inside and the outside of the curve than would otherwise occur causing the stent, when coated with a medicine, to apply a more even dose to the inside wall of the lumen, avoiding the possibility that a toxic dose is supplied at one area while a less than effective dose is applied to another area.

Abstract: A stent for insertion into a blood vessel is made from a sheet having a longitudinal axis and a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a proximal end and a distal end and a first lateral side and a second lateral side with the lateral sides of the first portion substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and disposed apart from each other a first distance. The second portion has a proximal end and a distal end and a first lateral side and a second lateral side with the lateral sides of the second portion substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and disposed apart from each other a second distance that is less than the first distance. The proximal end of the second portion communicates with the distal end of the first portion. The first lateral side of the first portion is connected to the second lateral side of the first portion and the first lateral side of the second portion is connected to the second lateral side of the second portion to form the stent.

Abstract: A stent for implanting in the body to hold open a blood vessel includes cells with facing loops and the curved flexible links disposed and adapted to cooperate so that, when unexpanded, the stent can flex as it is moved through curved blood vessels to a site where it is to be expanded and so that, when the stent is expanded in a curved vessel, at that site, as compared to each other, cells on the outside of the curve are open in length, but narrow in width as compared to cells on the inside of the curve which are short in length but increased in width to result in a more constant stent cell area between the inside and the outside of the curve than would otherwise occur causing the stent, when coated with a medicine, to apply a more even dose to the inside wall of the lumen, avoiding the possibility that a toxic dose is supplied at one area while a less than effective dose is applied to another area.

Abstract: An intravascular stent especially suited for implanting in curved arterial portions. The stent retains longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The stent is formed of intertwined meander patterns forming triangular cells. The triangular cells are adapted to provide radial support, and also to provide longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The triangular cells provide increased coverage of a vessel wall. The stent can have different portions adapted to optimize radial support or to optimize longitudinal flexibility. The stent can be adapted to prevent flaring of portions of the stent during insertion.

Abstract: An intravascular stent especially suited for implanting in curved arterial portions. The stent retains longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The stent is formed of intertwined meander patterns forming triangular cells. The triangular cells are adapted to provide radial support, and also to provide longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The triangular cells provide increased coverage of a vessel wall. The stent can have different portions adapted to optimize radial support or to optimize longitudinal flexibility. The stent can be adapted to prevent flaring of portions of the stent during insertion.

Abstract: A stent for insertion into a blood vessel is made from a sheet having a longitudinal axis and a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a proximal end and a distal end and a first lateral side and a second lateral side with the lateral sides of the first portion substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and disposed apart from each other a first distance. The second portion has a proximal end and a distal end and a first lateral side and a second lateral side with the lateral sides of the second portion substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and disposed apart from each other a second distance that is less than the first distance. The proximal end of the second portion communicates with the distal end of the first portion. The first lateral side of the first portion is connected to the second lateral side of the first portion and the first lateral side of the second portion is connected to the second lateral side of the second portion to form the stent.

Abstract: A stent and a method of making it from a wire, which method includes winding the wire on a mandrel, heating to form a coiled spring, and reversing the winding direction of the coiled spring to form the reversed coiled spring stent. The stent so formed may be reheated over a special mandrel so as to partly relax the outer portion of some or all of the stent coils. The stent may be made up of two or more sections, with adjoining section wound in opposite senses. Such a stent may be deployed by winding the stent onto a catheter, immobilizing the two ends of the wire and one or more intermediate points, bringing the stent to the location where it is to be deployed, and releasing first the intermediate point or points and then the end points. The release of the wire may be accomplished by heating the thread immobilizing the wire so that the thread breaks and releases the wire.

Abstract: A stent and a method of making it from a wire, which method includes winding the wire on a mandrel, heating to form a coiled spring, and reversing the winding direction of the coiled spring to form the reversed coiled spring stent. The stent so formed may be reheated over a special mandrel so as to partly relax the outer portion of some or all of the stent coils. The stent may be made up of two or more sections, with adjoining section wound in opposite senses. Such a stent may be deployed by winding the stent onto a catheter, immobilizing the two ends of the wire and one or more intermediate points, bringing the stent to the location where it is to be deployed, and releasing first the intermediate point or points and then the end points. The release of the wire may be accomplished by heating the thread immobilizing the wire so that the thread breaks and releases the wire.

Abstract: A stent for insertion into a blood vessel is made from a sheet having a longitudinal axis and a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a proximal end and a distal end and a first lateral side and a second lateral side with the lateral sides of the first portion substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and disposed apart from each other a first distance. The second portion has a proximal end and a distal end and a first lateral side and a second lateral side with the lateral sides of the second portion substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and disposed apart from each other a second distance that is less than the first distance. The proximal end of the second portion communicates with the distal end of the first portion. The first lateral side of the first portion is connected to the second lateral side of the first portion and the first lateral side of the second portion is connected to the second lateral side of the second portion to form the stent.

Abstract: Disclosed is a stent having struts with reverse direction curvature for providing a reduced compressed profile and an increased expanded profile. The strut configuration comprises a plurality of arcuate sections facing in opposite convex and a concave orientation. The strut width may be gradually decreased from its ends towards the strut's mid-section to redistribute maximal strains away from portions of the stent more susceptible to permanent deformation, such as the loop portions. Varying strut lengths to offset the maximum circumferential widths of adjacent portions of the stent may further reduce the compressed stent profile. The varied stent lengths may also contribute to an increased expanded stent profile. Stents with the reverse direction curvature strut design can obtain an expanded to compressed stent diameter ratio of about 7:1 compared to conventional stents that have a ratio of up to about 5:1. The curved strut can be utilized with any stent design.

Abstract: A bifurcated stent for insertion into a bifurcated vessel such as a blood vessel. In one embodiment, a first sheet is formed into a first leg, a second sheet is formed into a second leg, a third sheet is formed into a stem, and the two legs are attached to the stem. In a second embodiment, a first sheet is formed into a member having a first leg and half of a stem, a second sheet is formed into a second member having a second leg and half of a stem, and the two stem halves are combined to form the bifurcated stent. In a third embodiment, the stent comprises two sections that are serially inserted and assembled within the vessel at the site of the bifurcation to be treated.