Stent with stays defining circumferentially offset vertices

Abstract

A stent includes a plurality of unit grids. Within each unit grid, the first set of stays defines a first plurality of vertices and the second set of stays defines a second plurality of vertices, where the first stays and the second stays in the first set define a first vertex having a first apex angle and the second stays in the second set define a second vertex having a second apex angle. And the second stay and the third stay of the first set of stays define a second vertex having a second different vertex angle. Within each unit grid, fourth and fifth stays of the second set of stays define a third apex having a first apex angle, and the fifth and sixth stays define a fourth apex having a second apex angle. Each vertex of the first plurality of vertices is circumferentially offset from another vertex of the second plurality of vertices.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a medical stent. Background Technology

[0002] Stents are widely used in many medical applications where they are placed in and expanded within a patient's body cavity. Stents can be used in a patient's coronary arteries or other vascular systems, as well as other body cavities. Typically, a stent is a cylindrical member. The stent expands from a decreasing diameter to an increasing diameter. Stents can be self-expanding or balloon-expandable. At a target location within a patient's body cavity, the stent is expanded to substantially maintain or expand the diameter of the cavity at the target location. When a stent is placed in parts of the body, it can be both rigid and flexible. For example, when a stent is placed within a patient's vascular system at or near a joint or at a curvature within a body cavity, it can bend or remain in a curved configuration. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The stent can be formed from multiple rows of struts. Adjacent rows of struts can be connected via multi-row connectors. When the stent expands radially, the struts are juxtaposed with the surface of the body cavity, for example, to maintain or expand the diameter of the body cavity. Each row of struts can define multiple vertices. As the stent transitions between a collapsed and expanded configuration, the vertices can facilitate the collapse and expansion of the multiple rows of struts. Vertices can be defined as peaks extending toward the distal end of the stent and valleys extending toward the proximal end of the stent. When the stent is placed within the patient's body cavity with a certain curvature and / or (e.g., in response to patient movement) is bent, a portion of the stent is compressed and another portion of the stent is expanded.

[0004] When a stent is compressed, the peaks and valleys of adjacent rows of struts can come into contact with each other. For example, when a stent is compressed, the peaks of the first row of struts can come into contact with the valleys of the second row of struts. Contact between peaks and valleys can cause struts to protrude into the body cavity and / or cause interference between peaks and valleys. Protrusions and interference can reduce the amount of juxtaposition between body cavity surfaces, which can (e.g., due to the development of intracavitary thrombosis) affect fluid flow through the body cavity.

[0005] This disclosure describes example apparatus, systems, and methods for juxtaposing stent struts with the surface of a body cavity. The example stents described herein may include multiple rows of struts with circumferentially offset peaks and valleys. When the stent is compressed, the circumferential offset between the peaks and valleys reduces interference between the stent struts in response to compression, for example, by causing the struts to extend beyond each other rather than into each other. In some examples, the connectors of adjacent rows of struts and the stent define a cell grid. Within each cell grid, the struts may define vertices with different apex angles. The different apex angles cause the peaks and valleys within each cell grid to be circumferentially offset, for example, without altering the boundaries of the cell grid. In some examples, the multiple rows of struts may define a helical pattern along the longitudinal length of the stent, which can cause the peaks and valleys of adjacent rows of struts to become circumferentially offset.

[0006] The example devices, systems, and methods described in this disclosure can provide several advantages over other medical stents. Stents having the example strut patterns described herein can increase stent placement within the patient's body cavity without compromising stent flexibility and / or strength. The stents described herein can also increase stent placement within the body cavity without causing the stent to experience increased torque during stent expansion, thereby simplifying the stent deployment process.

[0007] In some examples, this disclosure describes a support comprising: multiple rows of support bars extending along a longitudinal axis, each row of support bars extending about the longitudinal axis; and multiple rows of connectors, each row of connectors extending between longitudinally adjacent rows of support bars; wherein the multiple rows of support bars and the multiple rows of connectors define a plurality of cell grids, wherein each cell grid is defined by: a first set of support bars in a first row of support bars, a second set of support bars in a second row of support bars, and two circumferentially adjacent connectors in a row of connectors in the plurality of rows, the row of connectors being located along the longitudinal axis. Between the first and second rows of struts, wherein within each cell grid, the first set of struts defines a first plurality of vertices and the second set of struts defines a second plurality of vertices, wherein within each cell grid, the first and second struts in the first set of struts define a first vertex having a first apex, and the second and third struts in the first set of struts define a second vertex having a second apex, the second apex being smaller than the first apex, and wherein within each cell grid, the fourth and fifth struts in the second set of struts define a third vertex having a first apex, and the fifth and sixth struts define a fourth vertex having a second apex.

[0008] In some examples, this disclosure describes a method comprising: receiving manufacturing data for manufacturing a support, the support comprising: multiple rows of support bars extending along a longitudinal axis, each row of support bars extending about the longitudinal axis; and multiple rows of connectors, each row of connectors extending between longitudinally adjacent rows of support bars; wherein the multiple rows of support bars and the multiple rows of connectors define a plurality of cell grids, wherein each cell grid is defined by: a first set of support bars in a first row of support bars, a second set of support bars in a second row of support bars, and two circumferentially adjacent connectors in a row of connectors, the row of connectors extending about the longitudinal axis. Located between the first row of support bars and the second row of support bars, wherein within each cell grid, the first set of support bars defines a first plurality of vertices and the second set of support bars defines a second plurality of vertices, wherein within each cell grid, the first and second support bars in the first set of support bars define a first vertex having a first apex angle, and the second and third support bars in the first set of support bars define a second vertex having a second apex angle smaller than the first apex angle, and wherein within each cell grid, the fourth and fifth support bars in the second set of support bars define a third vertex having a first apex angle, and the fifth and sixth support bars define a fourth vertex having a second apex angle; and material is removed from the elongated body by a subtractive manufacturing component to form a support.

[0009] In some examples, this disclosure describes a method comprising: advancing a stent within a patient's body cavity to a target location, wherein the stent includes: multiple rows of support bars extending along a longitudinal axis, each row of support bars extending about the longitudinal axis; and multiple rows of connectors, each row of connectors extending between longitudinally adjacent rows of support bars; wherein the multiple rows of support bars and the multiple rows of connectors define a plurality of cell grids, wherein each cell grid is defined by: a first set of support bars in a first row of support bars, a second set of support bars in a second row of support bars, and two circumferentially adjacent connectors in a row of connectors, the row of connectors being located along the longitudinal axis between the first row of support bars and the second row of support bars. Within each cell grid, a first set of struts defines a first plurality of vertices and a second set of struts defines a second plurality of vertices. Within each cell grid, a first strut and a second strut in the first set of struts define a first vertex having a first apex angle, and a second strut and a third strut in the first set of struts define a second vertex having a second apex angle smaller than the first apex angle. Within each cell grid, a fourth strut and a fifth strut in the second set of struts define a third vertex having a first apex angle, and a fifth strut and a sixth strut define a fourth vertex having a second apex angle. The support is radially expanded outward from the longitudinal axis at the target location to position the struts in the multiple rows of struts juxtaposed with the surface of the body cavity at the target location.

[0010] Details of one or more aspects of this disclosure are set forth in the following drawings and description. Other features, objects, and advantages of the technology described in this disclosure will be apparent from the description, drawings, and claims. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 This is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example stent in an expanded configuration within a patient's body cavity.

[0012] Figure 2 This is an example of a collapsed configuration. Figure 1 A conceptual diagram of an example support's cell mesh.

[0013] Figure 3 This is an example of an extended configuration. Figure 2 A conceptual diagram of an example cell mesh.

[0014] Figure 4 This is an example Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the cross-sectional view of the support bars of an example row of brackets, the cross-section being along... Figure 1 It was taken from the AA line.

[0015] Figure 5 This illustrates the expansion configuration when the stent is compressed. Figure 2 A conceptual diagram of an example cell mesh.

[0016] Figure 6 This is a conceptual diagram illustrating another example of a support structure in an expanded configuration.

[0017] Figure 7 This is an example Figure 6 A conceptual diagram of the support bars in an example bracket.

[0018] Figure 8A This is an example Figure 6 A conceptual diagram of the struts of an example row, which has been cut longitudinally and laid flat.

[0019] Figure 8B This is an example Figure 8A The following is a conceptual diagram of another view of the example row of struts.

[0020] Figure 9A This is an example of a collapsed configuration. Figure 6 A conceptual diagram of an example cell mesh.

[0021] Figure 9B This is an example Figure 9B A conceptual diagram of a cross-sectional view of an example cell mesh, the cross-section being along... Figure 9A It was taken from the BB line.

[0022] Figure 10 This is an example Figure 6 The example support has an example end row of struts, which has been longitudinally cut and laid flat.

[0023] Figure 11 This is an example Figure 8A The example diagram shows a pair of struts in an example row.

[0024] Figure 12 This is a flowchart illustrating the example process of manufacturing an example bracket.

[0025] Figure 13 This is a flowchart illustrating an example process of deploying an example stent in a patient's body. Detailed Implementation

[0026] Medical stents can be inserted into a patient's body and deployed within the patient's body cavity. When deployed, the stent expands radially outward away from its longitudinal axis and juxtaposes with the surface of the body cavity (i.e., in contact or proximal support). When expanded, the stent can maintain or expand the diameter of the body cavity.

[0027] The stent can be formed via multiple interconnected struts. These struts define multiple rows of struts positioned along the longitudinal length of the stent. Each row of struts extends about the longitudinal axis of the stent and defines the outer diameter of the stent. When the stent expands, the struts can be positioned juxtaposed with the surface of the body cavity, for example, to maintain or expand the diameter of the body cavity. Each row of struts can define apexes connecting the struts. Apexes may include peaks extending toward the distal end of the stent and valleys extending toward the proximal end of the stent. Apexes facilitate transitions between collapsed and expanded configurations of the stent. Longitudinal adjacent rows of struts can be connected via connectors. Each connector connects the apex of one row of struts to another apex of a longitudinally adjacent row of struts.

[0028] The stent can be self-expandable or balloon-expandable, for example, expandable via the expansion of a balloon in a stent delivery system. Stents can include open-pore stents and closed-pore stents. In an open-pore stent, at least some of the vertices of the stent are not connected to other vertices of the stent; in a closed-pore stent, each vertex of the stent is connected to another vertex of the stent, for example, via a connector. Compared to closed-pore stents, open-pore stents are more flexible and easier to adhere to the surface of a body cavity, for example, at or around curvatures within the body cavity.

[0029] As the stent expands at or around a curvature within the body cavity, it may bend or otherwise deform to contact the surface of the body cavity at or around that curvature. In such examples, a portion of the stent may compress and another portion may elongate, thus assuming a curved configuration, for example, conforming to the curvature within the body cavity. In some examples, such as for an open-ended stent, the apexes of adjacent rows of struts may interfere with each other when at least a portion of the stent is compressed. For example, the apexes of adjacent rows of struts may overlap longitudinally and / or be positioned to contact each other. In some examples, a set of struts and their accompanying apexes are forced away from the surface of the body cavity and protrude into the body cavity. In some examples, multiple sets of struts and their accompanying apexes from adjacent rows of struts overlap longitudinally, thereby forming an overlapping layer of struts within the body cavity and reducing the juxtaposition of the stent with the body cavity surface.

[0030] A reduction in the juxtaposition of the stent and the body cavity surface can lead to one or more medical conditions and / or reduce the effectiveness of medical treatments provided by the stent. These medical conditions may include, but are not limited to, stenosis, thrombosis, etc. Such medical conditions can cause clotting or other obstructions within the body cavity (where the body cavity is a blood vessel), which may reduce the effectiveness of medical treatments provided by the stent.

[0031] Figure 1 This is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example stent 102 in an expanded configuration within a patient's blood vessel 106. The stent 102 may extend from a distal end 102A to a proximal end 102B along a longitudinal axis 104 of the stent 102. The stent 102 may be formed from multiple rows 114A-114N (which may alternatively be referred to herein as "rows 114") of struts 110. (For example, struts 110 of longitudinally adjacent rows 114 along the longitudinal axis 102) may be connected by multiple conductors 112. Although the primary reference is to blood vessel 106, the stent 102 is described... Figure 1 However, the stent 102 can be placed in any other body cavity of the patient.

[0032] The support 102 can switch between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, such as Figure 1 As shown. Compared to the collapsed configuration, the stent 102 can define a larger outer diameter when in the expanded configuration. Clinicians can navigate the stent 102 in the collapsed configuration to a target location within the vessel 106 and expand the stent 102 into the expanded configuration to contact the vessel wall 108 of the vessel 106 at the target location. The stent 102 can be self-expanding or can be expanded within the vessel 106 via an expansion element (e.g., a balloon) for delivering the stent 102 to the target location.

[0033] The struts 110 of the stent 102 may define the outer periphery of the stent 102. When the stent 102 expands within the vessel 106, the struts 110 may be positioned juxtaposed with the vessel wall 108. When the stent 102 is in an expanded configuration, the struts 110 contact the vessel wall 108 to maintain or increase the diameter of the vessel 106 without puncturing the vessel wall 108. The struts 110 may define a plurality of rows 114, each row 114 extending about a longitudinal axis 104 and defining the outer periphery of the stent 102. Each strut in the struts 110 is connected at a pair of corresponding apexes to two other struts 110 within the same row 114.

[0034] Each vertex connects the ends of two individual struts 110 and can facilitate the collapse or expansion of the struts 110 of row 114 during transitions between a collapsed and expanded configuration of the support 102. Each vertex can serve as a hinge between two struts 110 to facilitate the collapse of the struts 110 toward each other and / or the expansion of the struts 110 away from each other. Vertices can define the same or different dimensions (e.g., cross-sectional dimensions) as the struts 110. For example, each vertex can define a cross-sectional width greater than the cross-sectional width of the strut 110 extending from the vertex. Vertices can include peaks extending distally along the longitudinal axis 104 and valleys extending proximally along the longitudinal axis 104. Within each row 114, the struts 110 can define alternating peaks and valleys around the circumference of the row 114. While each vertex is described as “connecting” the struts, the struts 110 of row 114 can be integral, such that a vertex can be a functional interface between two adjacent struts 110.

[0035] The struts 110 of the longitudinally alternating rows 114 can define an alternating pattern of vertices. For example, relative to a reference point around the circumference of the support 102, the first row 114 (e.g., row 114A) can define a first alternating pattern of peaks and valleys (e.g., a peak-valley-peak pattern), and longitudinally adjacent rows 114 (e.g., row 114B) can define different alternating patterns of peaks and valleys (e.g., a valley-peak-valley pattern). The struts 110 of longitudinally adjacent rows 114 can define different numbers of peaks and valleys. For example, the first row 114A can define a first number of peaks and a second number of valleys. The second row 114B can define a second number of peaks and a first number of valleys. The first number can be greater than or less than the second number. For example, the first number can be one greater than or one less than the second number.

[0036] Each row of 114 support bars 110 extends around the longitudinal axis 104 and forms a complete loop. In some examples, such as Figure 1As shown, each row 114 defines a reference plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 104. Each row 114 may expand radially away from the longitudinal axis 104 and / or collapse radially toward the longitudinal axis along the reference plane. Within each row 114, when the struts 110 expand away from each other along the periphery of the row 114 (e.g., where the apexes connecting the struts 110 serve as hinges), the expansion of all the struts 110 within the row 114 can cause the row 114 to expand outward away from the longitudinal axis 104. Similarly, the collapse of all the struts 110 along the periphery of the row 114 can cause the row 114 to collapse inward and toward the longitudinal axis 104.

[0037] The struts 110 of row 114 are connected via connectors 112. For example, one or more connectors 112 can connect struts 110 in a first row 114A to struts in a second row 114B. Connectors 112 can connect to struts 110 at apexes defined by struts 110. For example, connectors 112 can connect to peaks and valleys defined by struts 110 in each row 114. One or more connectors 112 can connect a valley of one row 114 (e.g., first row 114A) to a peak of another row 114 (e.g., second row 114B), connect valleys of different rows 114 (e.g., valleys of first row 114A and second row 114B), connect peaks of different rows 114 (e.g., peaks of first row 114A and second row 114B), and / or connect a peak of one row 114 (e.g., first row 114A) to a valley of another row 114 (e.g., second row 114B). Each connector 112 may be coupled to two vertices defined by the struts 110 within adjacent rows 114. One or more vertices within the bracket 102 may not be coupled to another vertex within the bracket 102 via connector 112 (e.g., one or more vertices are unconnected). In such an example, the bracket 102 may be referred to as an open bracket, having unconnected vertices within the bracket 102. Each connector 114 may extend parallel to the longitudinal axis 104, or may extend along a reference axis offset from the longitudinal axis 104.

[0038] Connector 112 may define a row 115 of connectors 112, each row 115 extending about a longitudinal axis 104 and forming a complete loop. The connectors 112 of the row 115 may be disposed between the struts 110 of longitudinally adjacent rows 114 (e.g., between the first row 114A and the second row 114B). The connectors 112 within each row 115 may connect to the struts 110 of longitudinally adjacent rows 114 disposed around the row 115. The connectors 112 within each row 115 may be evenly distributed around the periphery of the support 102, for example, to facilitate a uniform and repeatable transition of the support 102 between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.

[0039] Support bars 110 and connectors 112 may define a plurality of unit grids 200 within the support 102. Each unit grid 200 may be defined by two circumferentially adjacent connectors 112 and support bars 110, which extend within longitudinally adjacent rows 114 and between two circumferentially adjacent connectors 112. For example, as Figure 1 As shown, the cell grid 200 may be defined by two circumferentially adjacent connectors 112, each connector 112 connecting a first row 114A to a second row 114B, and struts 110 of the first row 114A and the second row 114B extending between the two connectors 112. Each row 114 may include one, two, three, four or more cell grids 200 surrounding the outer periphery of the support 102.

[0040] Within each cell grid 200, struts 110 may define vertices with different vertices, such as vertices having a first vertices and vertices having a second vertices different from (e.g., smaller than) the first vertices. Within each cell grid 200, at least one peak and at least one circumferentially adjacent valley in the same row 114 may have a first vertices. In such examples, each cell grid 200 may include at least four vertices with first vertices (e.g., at least two vertices with first vertices in each row 114 and two rows 114 defining the cell grid 200). In other examples, each cell grid 200 may include a different number of vertices with first vertices, such as three or fewer or five or more vertices with first vertices in each cell grid 200. Different vertex angles can cause the vertices of the first row 114A and the second row 114B to be circumferentially offset within the cell grid 200, thereby reducing or suppressing interference between the vertices of the first row 114A and the second row 114B in response to compression of the cell grid 200 caused by compression of the support 102, such as in response to bending of the support 102. Different cell grids 200 along the support 102 can define uniform or different dimensions and / or characteristics (e.g., the number of vertices within the cell grid 200, the number of struts 110 within the cell grid 200, the vertex angle value within the cell grid 200, the length of the cell grid 200 along a reference axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 104, or the width of the cell grid 200 along the longitudinal axis 104). In some examples, the size and / or properties of the cell grid 200 vary along the longitudinal axis 104, such that the cell grid 200 at or around the distal end 102A of the support 102 exhibits different size and / or properties compared to the cell grid 200 at or around the proximal end 102B of the support 102.

[0041] like Figure 1The stent 102 shown provides several advantages over other stents (e.g., other open-aperture stents). The stent 102 includes struts 110 defining vertices with different apex angles, which can cause circumferential offset of the vertices of struts 112 in adjacent rows 114. This circumferential offset of the vertices can reduce and / or suppress interference between vertices in response to compression of the stent 102, which can provide the stent 102 with increased juxtaposition with the vessel wall 108 compared to other identical stents with circumferentially aligned vertices. The stent 102 as described herein can also define vertices with different apex angles within a cell grid 200 without altering the size and / or shape of the cell grid 200 compared to cell grids within other identical stents having uniform apex angles in each cell grid. Compared to other stents with similar characteristics, the unit grid 200 described herein can increase the juxtaposition of the support strip 110 with the vessel wall 108 and can promote the uniform distribution of the unit grid 200 around the periphery of the stent 102 and / or along the longitudinal length of the stent 102, thereby allowing the entire stent 102 to exhibit flexibility, strength and increased juxtaposition characteristics without biasing a particular area on the stent 102 and / or without applying additional torque to the stent 102 during expansion.

[0042] Figure 2 This is an example of a collapsed configuration. Figure 1 A conceptual diagram of an example of the element mesh 200 of the example support 102. Figure 2 As shown, the cell grid 200 may be defined by two circumferentially adjacent connectors 112 and a set of struts 110 from rows 114 (e.g., from rows 114A, 114B) connected by the two connectors 112. Within the cell grid 200, each connector 112 connects a set of struts 110 from one row 114 (e.g., set 202A from the first row 114A) to another set of struts 110 from another row 114 (e.g., set 202B from the second row 114B). The connectors 112 may connect to sets 202A, 202B (collectively referred to herein as "set 202") at vertices 204A, 204B (collectively referred to as "vertices 204").

[0043] Vertex 204 may be defined relative to a reference (e.g., the distal end) as including peak 204A and valley 204B. Each strut 110 of group 202 may define a plurality of vertices 204, each vertex 204 connecting two circumferentially adjacent struts 110. Each group in group 202 may define vertices 204 including alternating peaks 204A and valleys 204B. For example, as Figure 2As shown, the first group 202A defines vertices 204 with a peak-valley-peak pattern within the unit grid 200, while the second group 202B defines vertices 204 with a valley-peak-valley pattern within the unit grid 200. Vertices 204 can serve as hinges between circumferentially adjacent struts 110 and facilitate the expansion of a row of struts 110 away from a collapsed configuration and / or the expansion of a row of struts 110 from an expanded configuration (e.g., as...). Figure 1 (As illustrated) Collapses into a collapsed configuration. Within the cell grid 200, the vertices 204 of the first group 202A can be offset longitudinally from the vertices 204 of the second group 202B.

[0044] The valley 204B of the first group 202A may be longitudinally adjacent to the peak 204A of the second group 202B. The outermost valley 204B of the first group 202A within the unit grid 200 may be connected to the outermost peak 204A of the second group 202B within the unit grid 200 via connector 112, thereby forming a peak-to-valley connection. The peak-to-valley connection may define the outer boundary of the unit grid 200 along the outer periphery of the support 102. Each of the support bar 110 and connector 112 may define two or more unit grids 200. For example, one or more support bars 110 may define two separate unit grids 200 (e.g., two adjacent unit grids 200).

[0045] Figure 3 This is an example of an extended configuration. Figure 2 A conceptual diagram of an example cell grid 200. When the expanded cell grid 200 extends from a first end 302A to a second end 302B, a connector 112 is provided at the first end 302A and the second end 302B (collectively referred to herein as “end 302”). Within the cell grid 200, the struts 110 of the first set 202A may define peaks 304A-304C (collectively referred to herein as “peak 304”) and valleys 306A-306D (collectively referred to herein as “valley 306”). For example, as... Figure 3As shown, the first strut 110A and the second strut 110B of the first group 202A can define a peak 304A. The second strut 110B can also define a valley 306B together with the third strut 110C of the first group 202A. Each peak in the peaks 304 can define a corresponding apex angle among the apex angles 308A-308C (collectively referred to herein as "apex angle 308"), and each valley in the valleys 306 (e.g., valleys 306B, 306C) within the cell grid 200 can define a corresponding apex angle among the apex angles 310A to 310B (collectively referred to herein as "apex angle 310"). Each apex angle 310 can be defined by an angle generated by the axis of each of two adjacent struts 110, such as at the midpoint of each strut 110. Within cell grid 200, the struts 110 of the second group 202B may define peaks 312A-312D (collectively referred to herein as "peaks 312") and valleys 316A-316C (collectively referred to herein as "valleys 316"). For example, the fourth strut 110D and the fifth strut 110E of the second group 202B may define valley 314C. The fifth strut 110E and the sixth strut 110F of the second group 202B may define peak 312C. Each peak in peak 312 within cell grid 200 (e.g., peaks 312B, 312C) may define a corresponding apex angle in apex angles 318A-318B (collectively referred to herein as "apex angles 318"), and each valley in valley 314 within cell grid 200 may define a corresponding apex angle in apex angles 316A to 316C (collectively referred to herein as "apex angles 316"). Each of the apex angles 308, 310, 316, and 318 can be up to approximately 90 degrees. Group 1 202A and Group 202B may be collectively referred to as “Group 202” in this document.

[0046] Each group in group 202 may include alternating peaks and valleys, for example, alternating peaks 304 and valleys 306 or alternating peaks 312 and valleys 314. Within cell grid 200, each group in group 202 may include a different number of peaks and valleys. For example, as Figure 3 As shown, the cell grid 200 may include three peaks 304 (e.g., peaks 304A-304C) and two valleys 306 (e.g., valleys 306B, 306C) in group 202A, and two peaks 312 (e.g., peaks 312B, 312C) and three valleys 314 (e.g., valleys 314A-314C) in a second group 202B. In some examples, the cell grid 200 may include up to three peaks and / or valleys in each strut 110 of each group 202 in the cell grid 200. In some examples, the cell grid 200 may include more or fewer peaks and / or valleys (e.g., fewer than three or four or more peaks and / or valleys) in each strut 110 of each group 202 in the cell grid 200.

[0047] Connector 112 can connect the outermost valley 306 (e.g., valley 306A, valley 306D) of the strut 110 of the first group 202A to the outermost peak 312 (e.g., peak 312A, peak 312D) of the strut 110 of the second group 202B to define the ends 302A and 302B of the cell grid 200. The peaks 304, peaks 312 and valleys 306, valleys 314 between the ends 302A and 302B can define apex angles 308, 310, 316 and 318 with two or more different values ​​to cause the valleys 306 (e.g., valley 306B, valley 306C) and peaks 312 (e.g., peaks 312B, peak 312C) within the cell grid 200 to be circumferentially offset by at least a distance 320. The distance 320 can be from about 0.08 millimeters (mm) to about 0.13 millimeters (mm) (e.g., from about 0.003 inches (in) to about 0.005 inches (in)). The distance 320 can be measured between the centers of valley 306 and peak 312. In other examples, the distance 320 can have different values ​​depending at least in part on one or more factors. One or more factors can include, but are not limited to, the outer diameter of the support 102, the number of valleys 306 and peaks 312 in each unit grid 200, the width of the strut 110, or the width of the unit grid 200. The circumferential offset of the distance 320 between valleys 306 and peaks 312 within the unit grid 200 can reduce or suppress interference between valleys 306 and peaks 312 in response to compression of the unit grid 200 along the longitudinal axis 104.

[0048] Vertices 304, 306, 312, and 314 may define one of two or more distinct values. For example, vertices 308A, 318A, 316C, and 318B may define a first vertex angle value, and vertices 308B, 308C, 310B, 316A, 316B, and 318A may define a second vertex angle value different from the first vertex angle value. The first vertex angle value may be greater than the second vertex angle value (e.g., it may be up to about 20% larger than the second vertex angle value). The strut 110 defining vertices 308, 310, 316, and 318 with the first vertex angle value may be defined with a different length than the strut 110 defining vertices 308, 310, 316, and 318 with the second vertex angle value.

[0049] Each group 202 may define vertices with a first apex angle at opposite ends 302, for example, to maintain a circumferential offset between valleys 306 and peaks 312 within the cell grid 200. For example, peaks 304A and valleys 306B with apex angles 308A and 310A, and peaks 312C and valleys 314C with apex angles 318B and 316C, may also define a first angle value. Both groups 202 may include apex angles defining the first angle value to create a circumferential offset between valleys 306 and peaks within the cell grid 200 while maintaining the width of the cell grid 200 between ends 302 (e.g., compared to another cell grid 200 having the same size and including vertices defining uniform apex angle values).

[0050] Figure 4 This is an example Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the strut 110 of the example row 114A of the bracket 102, the cross-section being along...

[0051] Figure 1 The line AA is cut off. The struts 110 of example row 114 may be defined by multiple cell grids 200 (e.g., four or more cell grids 200). Row 114 may include multiple struts 110, with circumferentially adjacent struts 110 connected by vertices. Vertices may include peaks 304 and valleys 306. Row 114 may include struts 110 connected by alternating peaks 304 and valleys 306. Row 114 may be centrally symmetric about a longitudinal axis 104, for example, row 114 may be symmetric about a center point of row 114 set along the longitudinal axis 104. In some examples, such as... Figure 4 As shown, connector 112 is centrally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis 104.

[0052] Row 114 can be connected to adjacent rows 114 via connector 112. Connectors 112 can be evenly distributed around the perimeter of row 114, for example, to facilitate uniform expansion of row 114 around its perimeter. Connectors 112 can define the ends of cell grid 200. Figure 4 As shown, each connector 112 may define the ends of two cell grids 200 (e.g., two circumferentially adjacent cell grids 200). The connector 112 may define a circular, elliptical, rectangular or other polygonal cross-section (e.g., trapezoidal, quadrilateral, pentagonal or hexagonal cross-section).

[0053] Figure 5 This illustrates the expanded configuration when the support 102 is compressed. Figure 2A conceptual diagram of the cell grid 200. When the stent 102 bends (e.g., within the curvature of the blood vessel 106), a compressive force 402 is applied to at least some of the cell grids 200 of the stent 102, thereby compressing at least some of the cell grids 200 and, by extension, partially compressing the stent 102. The compressive force 402 may be applied to the cell grids 200 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 104.

[0054] When the element mesh 200 is compressed, the valleys 306B and 306C of the struts 202A of the first group 110 can longitudinally overlap with the peaks 312B and 312C of the struts 110 of the second group 202B, respectively. For example... Figure 5 As shown, valleys 306B and 306C can be circumferentially offset from peaks 312B and 312C by a distance of 320. Therefore, when valleys 306B and 306C longitudinally overlap with peaks 312B and 312C, the struts 110 defining valleys 306B and 306C can be separated from the struts 110 defining peaks 312B and 312C by at least a distance of 404. The distance 404 can be as high as about 0.05 mm (e.g., as high as about 0.002 inches).

[0055] When the support strip 110 of the limiting valleys 306B and 306C is separated from the support strip 110 of the limiting peaks 312B and 312C by a distance of 404, the interference of valleys 306B and 306C with peaks 312B and 312C can be suppressed, thereby reducing or suppressing the potential loss of the juxtaposition of the support strip 110 and the blood vessel wall 108 caused by the interference between the support strip 110 of the first group 202A and the support strip 110 of the second group 202B.

[0056] In some examples, the supports described herein may include multiple rows of supports forming patterns such as spiral or helical patterns. Figure 6 This is a conceptual diagram illustrating another example of a support 502 in an expanded configuration. Figure 7 This is an example Figure 6The following is a conceptual diagram of the struts of an example row of an example support. The support 502 may extend along a longitudinal axis 104 from a distal end 502A to a proximal end 502B. The support 502 may include struts 110 of the distal row 504A at or around the distal end 502A of the support 502. The support 502 may include struts 110 of the proximal row 504B at or near the proximal end 502B of the support 502. The support 502 may include struts 110 of multiple rows 506 disposed along the longitudinal axis 104 between the distal row 504A and the proximal row 504B. Rows 504A, 504B, and 506 may be connected via multiple connectors 112 configured to connect longitudinally adjacent rows of struts 110. Rows 506 may define a spiral or coiled pattern around the periphery of the support 502 and along the longitudinal axis 104. Spiral or spiral patterns can create circumferential offsets between longitudinally adjacent vertices defined by the struts 110, and can suppress or reduce interference between the struts 110 when the support 502 is at least partially compressed.

[0057] One end of the first row 504A may define the distal end 502A of the stent 502. One end of the second row 504A may define the proximal end 502A of the stent 502. The ends of the first row 504A and the second row 504B that define the distal end 502A and the proximal end 502A, respectively, may each define a reference plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 104, for example, such that the stent 502 defines a cylindrical periphery. For example, the first row 504A and the second row 504B may form flat ends of the stent 502 at the distal end 502A and the proximal end 502B. The flat ends at the distal end 502A and the proximal end 502B may facilitate the stent 502 within the patient's body cavity (e.g., Figure 1 Deployment within the blood vessels (106).

[0058] The first row 504A and the second row 504B may include support bars 110 of different lengths, for example, to facilitate the transition between the first row 504A, the second row 504B, and row 506 of the support bars 110. The first row 504A and / or the second row 504B may include a different number of support bars 110 compared to row 506. For example, as... Figure 7 As shown, the first row 504A may include a support bar 110 of increased length, such that the end of the first row 504A configured to connect to row 506 defines a spacing that is the same as or similar to the spacing of row 506. In such examples, connectors 112 connecting the first row 504A to row 506, connecting longitudinally adjacent rows 506, and connecting row 506 to the second row 504B may have the same or similar longitudinal length, which allows the bracket 502 to maintain the same strength and / or flexibility as another bracket without multiple rows of support bars orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the bracket.

[0059] Each row of rows 506 may extend about a longitudinal axis 104. Each row of rows 506 may define at least a portion of the helical pattern of the support 502. For example, each row of rows 506 may define a helical axis 503 offset from the longitudinal axis 104. The helical axis 503 may be offset from the longitudinal axis 104 by a helical angle 505. Rows 506 may define a uniform or varying helical angle 505 along the longitudinal length of the support 502. For example, the helical angle 505 of row 506 may increase from the distal end 502A to the proximal end 502B, and vice versa. Each row of rows 506 may correspond to a complete rotation of a helical or spiral pattern about the periphery of the support 502. The struts 110 of longitudinally adjacent rows 506 may be connected via connectors 112, for example, as previously described herein. Figures 1 to 5 Example of support 102 described in any of the above. For example, at least some of the peaks of the struts 102 in a row 506 may be connected via connector 112 to at least some of the valleys of the struts 102 in a longitudinally adjacent row 506.

[0060] The placement of connectors 112 around the periphery of bracket 502 can be independent of the spiral or concentric pattern of rows 506. Connector 112 can connect one vertex from each plurality of vertices within a row 506 to vertices in a longitudinally adjacent row 506. Connector 112 can connect to one of every two, three, four, or five or more vertices. The multiple connectors 112 within bracket 502 can represent a balance between the rigidity, integrity, flexibility, and juxtaposition capability of bracket 502.

[0061] Figure 8A This is an example Figure 6 The following is a conceptual diagram of the support bar 110 of the example row 506, which has been longitudinally cut and laid flat. Figure 8B This is an example Figure 8A The following is a conceptual diagram of another view of the strut 110 of example row 506. Row 506 may extend from a first end 602A to a second end 602B. The strut 110 within row 506 may define multiple vertices, including multiple peaks 604 and multiple valleys 606.

[0062] In some examples, each row 506 may define a spiral or coiled pattern independently of the other rows 506 within the support 502. For example, as Figure 8BAs shown, the first end 602A of row 506 can be connected via connector 112 to the second end 602B (e.g., a valley 606 at the first end 602A can be connected to a peak 604 at the second end 602B) to form a complete spiral or helical pattern. The complete spiral or helical pattern defined by row 506 can undergo a complete rotation around the periphery of support 502. Multiple rows 506 can be connected via connector 112 to form the body of support 502, which extends between the first row 504A and the second row 504B.

[0063] Figure 9A This is an example of a collapsed configuration. Figure 6 A conceptual diagram of an example cell mesh. Figure 9B This is an example Figure 9B A conceptual diagram of a cross-sectional view of an example cell mesh, the cross-section being along... Figure 9A It was taken from the BB line.

[0064] The vertices within each row 506 can be set along a spiral path defined by row 506. For example, as Figure 9A As shown, a peak 604 within row 506 may be longitudinally offset by at least the helical pitch of row 506. Similarly, a valley 606 within row 506 may be longitudinally offset by at least the helical pitch of row 506. One or more peaks of a row 506 may connect to one or more peaks or valleys of an adjacent row 506 (e.g., the distal row 506). In some examples, where one or more peaks of a row 506 connect to one or more valleys of an adjacent row 506, one end of row 506 may define a partial vertex (e.g., half of the vertex) to facilitate a continuous connection between adjacent rows 506. Compared to other identical supports with peak-to-peak connections, a support 502 with peak-to-valley connections is able to expand to a larger diameter while maintaining radial support and flexibility.

[0065] like Figure 9A As shown, the peak 604 of the strut 110 in each row 506 can be circumferentially offset from the valley of the strut 110 in the longitudinally adjacent row 506. When the support 502 is compressed, the circumferential offset can suppress interference between the struts 110 in the longitudinally adjacent row 506. The connector 112 can extend along a reference axis offset from the longitudinal axis 104 to connect the longitudinally adjacent row 506 and / or the ends 602A, 602B of the row 506.

[0066] When the support 502 is in a collapsed configuration, the peaks 604 and valleys 606 within the row 506 can be longitudinally offset. This longitudinal offset of the peaks 604 and valleys 606 can reduce the outer diameter of the row 506 in the collapsed configuration, for example, by staggering the peaks 604 and valleys 606 at different longitudinal positions, and preventing the overlap of peaks 604 and / or valleys 606 when the support 502 collapses. For example, as... Figure 9BAs shown, the peaks 604 and valleys 606 are longitudinally staggered, such that all peaks 604 and / or all valleys 606 defined by the struts 110 of row 506 are not located in the same longitudinal position. The reduced outer diameter allows the support 502 to define a smaller outer diameter compared to the same support without longitudinally offset vertices, or may include struts 110 with a larger width and / or diameter compared to another support without longitudinally offset vertices.

[0067] Figure 10 This is an example Figure 6 A conceptual diagram of the support bars 110 of an example end row of the support 502, which has been longitudinally cut and laid flat. Although Figure 10 The first row 504A is illustrated, but the second row 504B can exhibit the same or similar dimensions and geometry. The first row 504A extends from a first end 602A to a second end 602B. A strut 110 may extend between a first end 701A (e.g., the distal end 502A of the support 502) and a second end 701B of the first row 504A. The strut 110 may define a plurality of peaks 604 at the first end 701A and a plurality of valleys 606 at the second end 701B. The strut 110 within the first row 504A may define different numbers of peaks 604 and valleys 606. For example, the strut 110 within the first row 504A may define more valleys 606 than peaks 604. The apexes of the first row 504A may alternate between peaks 604 and valleys 606 from the first end 602A to the second end 602B. In some examples, such as... Figure 10 As shown, the strut 110 of the first row 504A defines a half-apex (e.g., at or around the second end 602B). The half-apex facilitates the transition of the strut 110 from the first row 504A to the longitudinally adjacent row 506.

[0068] The support bar 110 may define different longitudinal lengths from a first end 602A to a second end 602B. The second end 701B may define a helical path around the periphery of the support 502. The helical path may define a helix angle that is the same as or similar to that of the row 506, for example, to facilitate a transition between the first row 504A and the longitudinally adjacent row 506. One or more valleys 606 of the first row 504A may be connected via one or more connectors 112 to one or more peaks of the longitudinally adjacent row 506. The support bar 110 within the first row 504A may define a uniform or varying apex angle between the first end 602A and the second end 602B. For example, as... Figure 10 As shown, the support bar 110 may define a peak 604 and a valley 606 having a first apex angle at or around the first end 602A, and a peak 604 and a valley 606 having a second apex angle at or around the second end 602B.

[0069] In some examples, the apex angle within the first row 504A from the first end 602A to the second end 602B may be uniform, for example, to maintain consistent strength and / or flexibility of the support 502 around its entire perimeter. In such examples, the strut 110 may define gaps with different widths 704, 706 between the peaks 604, thereby facilitating the placement and number of apexes defined by the strut 110 without adjusting the apex angles of the apexes. The widths 704, 706 may be measured along a reference axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 104. The width 706 may depend on the total width of the first row 504A from the first end 602A to the second end 602B and / or the number of apexes and / or half-apexes defined by the strut 110 within the first row 504A. The combination of all widths 704, 706 from the first end 602A to the second end 602B may be equal to an integer of the width 704, for example, to compensate for the presence of any half-apexes within the first row 504A. For example, as Figure 10 As shown, the support strip 110 of the first row 504A defines four gaps between peaks 604 having a width of 706 and four gaps between peaks 604 having a width of 704. The gaps between peaks 604 having a width of 706 may be provided at or around one end of the first row 504A (e.g., the second end 602B), or may be distributed between the first end 602A and the second end 602B. For example, the width of the gaps between peaks 604 may alternate between width 704 and width 706.

[0070] Figure 11 This is an example Figure 8A The following is a conceptual diagram of a pair of support bars 110 in example row 506. Support bars 110 may include a first support bar 110A and a second support bar 110B. Each of support bars 110A and 110B may be connected to a peak 604 and a valley 606. Support bars 110A and 110B may be jointly connected at a peak 604 between support bars 110A and 110B. In other examples, circumferentially adjacent support bars 110 may be jointly connected at a valley 606 between support bars 110. Support bars 110A and 110B may be symmetrical about a longitudinal axis 703 extending through the peak 604. The longitudinal axis 703 may be parallel to or offset from the longitudinal axis 104 of the support 502, such as... Figure 6 As shown.

[0071] Support bar 110A can be defined in height 702A along longitudinal axis 703, and in maximum width 704A between support bar 110A and longitudinal axis 703 along a reference axis orthogonal to longitudinal axis 104. Maximum width 704A can be measured at the end of support bar 110A connected to valley 606. Support bar 110B can be defined in height 702B along longitudinal axis 703, and in maximum width 704B between support bar 110B and longitudinal axis 703 along a reference axis orthogonal to longitudinal axis 104. Width 704B can be measured at the end of support bar 110B connected to valley 606.

[0072] like Figure 11 As shown, the height 702A of the support bar 110A can differ from the height 702B of the support bar 110B, for example, to maintain the spiral or coiled pattern defined by the rows 506 of the support bar 110. The height 702A can be greater than or less than the height 702B, depending on the winding direction of the spiral or coiled pattern defined by the rows 506. For example, as Figures 6 to 11 As shown, height 702A may be less than height 702B to support counterclockwise rotation of the helix or spiral defined by row 506 about longitudinal axis 104. Heights 702A and 702B may differ by a distance 708. Each valley 606 defined by one of the struts 110A and 110B may be separated from the peak 604 of the longitudinally adjacent row 506 by a distance 706. Similarly, the peak 605 defined by struts 110A and 110B may be longitudinally offset from the valley 606 of the longitudinally adjacent row 506 by a distance 706.

[0073] Width 704A can have the same or different value as width 704B. When width 704A equals width 704B, each of struts 110A and 110B can be offset by the same angle from the longitudinal axis 703. The offset angle can be determined based on the circumference of row 506 and the number of peaks 604 within row 506. For example, struts 110 in row 506 with more peaks 604 can define a smaller offset angle compared to struts 110 in row 506 with fewer peaks 604. The apex angle of peak 604 can be the sum of the offset angles of struts 110A and 110B that define peak 604.

[0074] The spiral pattern of row 506 can be defined by the number of peaks 604 in each row, the pitch of the spiral winding of the spiral pattern, the diameter of the support 502, and the longitudinal offset (e.g., distance 706) between the vertices of adjacent rows 506.

[0075] Height 706A can be calculated via equation (1), and height 706B can be calculated via equation (2). The width between adjacent valleys 606 along the circumference of row 506 can be calculated via equation (3). The variables in equations (1) to (3) are described in Table 1 below.

[0076] (1)

[0077] (2)

[0078] (3)

[0079] Table 1

[0080]

[0081] Based on the desired parameter values ​​of the spiral pattern of the rows 506 within the support 502 (e.g., the number of peaks 604, the diameter of the support 502, the pitch of the spiral winding, and the longitudinal offset between the vertices), the manufacturing system can determine the dimensions and placement of the struts 110, connectors 112, peaks 604, and valleys 606 around the elongated body, and can remove material from the elongated body, for example via a cutting instrument or via laser cutting technology, to form the support 502 with the desired parameters.

[0082] While brackets 102 and 502 have been described primarily above, other example brackets may include one or more elements from both brackets 102 and 502. In some examples, example brackets include rows 114 defining a spiral pattern, such as row 506 as described herein with respect to bracket 502. In some examples, examples of bracket 502 may include rows 506 defining a cell grid (e.g., cell grid 200) and vertices defining different apex angles within each cell grid. In some examples, a bracket includes two or more segments along a longitudinal axis 104, wherein each segment includes multiple rows of struts 110 having the same dimensions and / or characteristics as one of brackets 102, 502 as described herein. For example, a first segment of a bracket may include struts 110 of row 114, and a second segment of a bracket may include rows 504A, 504B, and / or row 506.

[0083] Figure 12 This is a flowchart illustrating an example process for manufacturing an example bracket. Although Figure 12 The example processes shown are primarily described as being performed by a subtractive manufacturing assembly, but the example processes may be performed by a manufacturer and / or by other manufacturing systems (e.g., additive manufacturing assemblies) to manufacture the example scaffolds described in this disclosure. For example, the additive manufacturing assembly may determine the placement of scaffold elements around a reference elongated body, for example, according to the example processes discussed below, and may form the scaffold elements via additive manufacturing techniques.

[0084] The subtractive manufacturing assembly can receive manufacturing data (802) for manufacturing supports (e.g., support 102, support 502). The manufacturing data can instruct the placement of the support struts 110 and connectors 112 defining the support around the circumference of an elongated body for forming the support. In some examples, the subtractive manufacturing assembly receives the manufacturing data via user input from the manufacturer, such as from a computer device. In some examples, the subtractive manufacturing assembly can determine the placement of the support struts 110 and connectors 112 and generate the manufacturing data.

[0085] Manufacturing data may include the placement of the support bar 110 and connector 112 along the longitudinal length of the elongated body and around the outer periphery of the elongated body. The longitudinal axis of the elongated body may be the same as the longitudinal axis of the support (e.g., longitudinal axis 104). The portion of the elongated body outside the support bar 110 and connector 112 will be removed by a subtractive manufacturing assembly. The support bar 110 and connector 112 may define a single continuous support. Manufacturing data may indicate the cross-section of the support bar 110 and connector 112 (e.g., circular, elliptical, rectangular, trapezoidal, pentagonal, hexagonal, or other polygonal shapes).

[0086] The struts 110 may define multiple rows (e.g., rows 114, 504A, 504B, 506), each row extending around the circumference of the elongated body. When a subtractive manufacturing assembly is formed from the elongated body into a support, the multiple rows of struts may form the outer periphery of the support. Within each row, the struts 110 may define multiple vertices, each vertex connecting two circumferentially adjacent struts. Vertices may include peaks (e.g., peaks 204A, 304, 312, 604) pointing towards the distal end of the support and valleys (e.g., valleys 204B, 306, 314, 606) pointing towards the proximal end of the support. Manufacturing data may include the struts 110 defining the vertices, which have alternating peaks and valleys around the periphery of the elongated body.

[0087] Each row of support bars 110 can be connected to one or more longitudinally adjacent rows of support bars 110 via connectors 112. Manufacturing data may define the longitudinal offset between longitudinally adjacent rows of support bars 110 and the length (e.g., longitudinal length) of connectors 112. Connectors 112 may extend parallel to the longitudinal axis or may be offset from the longitudinal axis.

[0088] As defined by the placement of the support bars 110 and connectors 112, the apexes of longitudinally adjacent rows of support bars 110 may be circumferentially offset. Circumferential offset allows longitudinally adjacent apexes to overlap longitudinally without circumferentially overlapping, for example, in response to stent compression. Therefore, circumferential offset can reduce or suppress unintended interference between the apexes of the support bars 110 and / or longitudinally adjacent rows of support bars 110 in response to stent compression, which can increase the juxtaposition of the support bars 110 with the surface of the patient's body cavity and / or enhance the effectiveness of the stent.

[0089] In some examples, such as Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the cell grid 200 defined by the struts 110 and connectors 120 may include vertices with different apex angles within each cell grid 200. Manufacturing data may include the placement of all struts 110 and connectors 120 along the entire support. In some examples, the manufacturing data includes the placement of struts 110 and connectors 120 within a single cell grid 200. The subtractive manufacturing assembly can then replicate the single cell grid 200 to define the entire support, for example, according to instructions stored in the subtractive manufacturing assembly.

[0090] In some examples, such as Figures 6 to 11 As shown, rows (e.g., row 506) of the support bars 110 may define a helical or spiral pattern. Manufacturing data may include instructions for forming the support within the helical or spiral pattern defined by row 506. In some examples, the manufacturing data may include the placement of all support bars 110 and connectors 120 within the support, defining a helical or spiral pattern. In some examples, the manufacturing data includes a single row 506 of the support bars 110, and the subtractive manufacturing assembly replicates the single row 506 at different locations along the elongated body to generate the placement of the support bars 110 and connectors 112 on the support. In some examples, the manufacturing data includes circumference values ​​of the helical pattern, including but not limited to the number of peaks 604 in each row, the pitch of the helical windings of the helical pattern, and the longitudinal offset between the vertices of adjacent rows. Based on the manufacturing data in conjunction with the outer diameter of the elongated body, the subtractive manufacturing assembly may, for example, determine the dimensions and placement of the support bars 110 and connectors 112 based at least in part on Equations 1 to 3.

[0091] The subtractive manufacturing assembly can remove material from an elongated body to form a support (804) based on manufacturing data. The subtractive manufacturing assembly can remove material to form a support 110 and a connector 112. The subtractive manufacturing assembly can determine the placement of the support 110 and the connector 112 based on manufacturing data, and can remove material from the elongated body to form the support 110 and the connector 112. The subtractive manufacturing assembly can remove material via one or more techniques, including but not limited to laser cutting techniques, cutting instruments (e.g., blade instruments), or the application of one or more chemicals.

[0092] Figure 13 This is a flowchart illustrating an example process of deploying an example stent in a patient's body. Although Figure 13 The example procedure illustrated herein is primarily described in relation to the deployment of a stent within a patient’s blood vessel (e.g., vessel 106), but the example procedure can be applied to deploying the example stent within another body cavity of the patient (e.g., parts of the patient’s gastrointestinal tract, ureter, etc.).

[0093] Clinicians can advance a collapsed stent through a body cavity (e.g., vessel 106) to a target location (902). Clinicians can attach the stent in its collapsed configuration to a delivery system (e.g., to a delivery catheter) and advance the delivery system within the patient (e.g., within the patient's vascular system) to the target location. Clinicians can visualize the stent's location within the patient using one or more imaging techniques (including, but not limited to, fluoroscopy).

[0094] The delivery system can hold the stent in a collapsed configuration. In the collapsed configuration, the stent can be defined with a reduced outer diameter compared to a stent in an expanded configuration. The collapsed configuration can facilitate stent navigation within the patient's body (e.g., within the patient's vascular system). The stent can be flexible in the collapsed configuration to facilitate navigation of the stent to the target location around the curvature within the patient's vascular system.

[0095] Clinicians can radially expand the stent to position the stent strut 110 juxtaposed with the wall tissue of the body cavity at the target location. (904) For example, clinicians can radially expand the stent to an expanded configuration to position the strut 110 juxtaposed with the vessel wall 108 of the vessel 106. When the expanded stent is placed juxtaposed with the body cavity wall, the stent can maintain or expand the diameter of the body cavity wall, thereby facilitating fluid flow through the body cavity.

[0096] In some examples, where the stent is self-expanding, clinicians can release the stent from the delivery system at the target location, and the stent can automatically expand from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration. In some examples, clinicians can expand the stent to an expanded configuration via expansion of the expandable component of the delivery element (e.g., an occlusion element, a balloon, a basket, etc.).

[0097] The target location may be situated at or around a bend in the body cavity, and at least a portion of the expandable stent may be positioned within the bend. In some examples, patient movement may cause at least temporary bending of the body cavity. The stent is flexible and conforms to curvature, for example, to remain juxtaposed with the body cavity wall. At least a portion of the stent is compressible, and another portion of the stent may elongate to allow the stent to bend. When the stent is at least partially compressed, the apexes of the longitudinally adjacent rows of struts 110 may longitudinally overlap. The apexes of the longitudinally adjacent rows may be circumferentially offset (e.g., as discussed in more detail above) to suppress interference between the struts and apexes of the longitudinally adjacent rows during stent compression. Thus, the circumferential offset between the apexes of adjacent rows may increase the juxtaposition of the struts 110 with the body cavity wall and / or enhance the effectiveness of the stent compared to other identical stents with circumferentially aligned apexes.

[0098] This disclosure describes the following embodiments:

[0099] Example 1: A bracket comprising: multiple rows of support bars extending along a longitudinal axis, each row of support bars extending about the longitudinal axis; and multiple rows of connectors, each row of connectors extending between longitudinally adjacent rows of support bars; wherein the multiple rows of support bars and the multiple rows of connectors define a plurality of unit grids, wherein each unit grid is defined by: a first group of support bars in a first row of support bars, a second group of support bars in a second row of support bars, and two circumferentially adjacent connectors in a row of connectors, the row of connectors being located along the longitudinal axis in the first row of support bars. Between the first set of support bars and the second set of support bars, wherein within each cell grid, the first set of support bars defines a first plurality of vertices and the second set of support bars defines a second plurality of vertices, wherein within each cell grid, the first and second support bars in the first set of support bars define a first vertex having a first apex, and the second and third support bars in the first set of support bars define a second vertex having a second apex, the second apex being smaller than the first apex, and wherein within each cell grid, the fourth and fifth support bars in the second set of support bars define a third vertex having the first apex, and the fifth and sixth support bars define a fourth vertex having the second apex.

[0100] Example 2: The bracket according to Example 1, wherein the bracket is configured to be compressed along the longitudinal axis, wherein when the bracket is in the compressed configuration, the longitudinal distance between the longitudinally adjacent rows of support bars is reduced, and wherein the second apex angle is smaller than the first apex angle, so as to reduce the contact between the first plurality of apexes and the second plurality of apexes when the bracket is in the compressed configuration.

[0101] Example 3: A bracket according to any one of Examples 1 and 2, wherein each unit grid extends from a first end to a second end around the longitudinal axis, wherein a first connector of two circumferentially adjacent connectors defines the first end, wherein a second connector of two circumferentially adjacent connectors defines the second end, wherein a first support bar is connected to the first connector, and wherein a fourth support bar is connected to the second connector.

[0102] Example 4: The bracket according to any one of Examples 1 to 3, wherein each connector in the multi-row connectors extends parallel to the longitudinal axis.

[0103] Example 5: A stent according to any one of Examples 1 to 4, wherein for each cell grid, the first plurality of vertices includes a first plurality of peaks extending toward the distal end of the stent and a first plurality of valleys extending toward the proximal end of the stent, wherein for each cell grid, the second plurality of vertices includes a second plurality of peaks extending toward the distal end of the stent and a second plurality of valleys extending toward the proximal end of the stent, and wherein for each cell grid, the second vertex angle is smaller than the first vertex angle, such that each of the first plurality of peaks is circumferentially offset from each of the second plurality of valleys, and each of the first plurality of valleys is circumferentially offset from each of the second plurality of peaks.

[0104] Example 6: According to the support described in Example 5, each of the first plurality of peaks is defined by a peak angle, each of the first plurality of valleys is defined by a valley angle, the peak angle of at least one of the first plurality of peaks is equal to the first vertex angle, the peak angle of the remaining number of peaks in the first plurality of peaks is equal to the second vertex angle, the valley angle of at least one of the first plurality of valleys is equal to the first vertex angle, and the valley angle of the remaining number of valleys in the first plurality of valleys is equal to the second vertex angle.

[0105] Example 7: The bracket according to any one of Examples 1 to 6, wherein the first apex angle is less than or equal to 90 degrees.

[0106] Example 8: The bracket according to any one of Examples 1 to 7, wherein the difference between the first apex angle and the second apex angle is less than or equal to 20 degrees.

[0107] Example 9: The bracket according to any one of Examples 1 to 8, wherein each row of the multi-row support bars is centrally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis.

[0108] Example 10: The bracket according to Example 9, wherein each row of connectors in the multi-row connectors is centrally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis.

[0109] Example 11: The bracket according to any one of Examples 1 to 10, wherein the bracket is formed by laser cutting.

[0110] Example 12: A support according to any one of Examples 1 to 11, wherein the multiple rows of support bars define a spiral pattern along the longitudinal axis from the distal end of the support to the proximal end of the support.

[0111] Example 13: The bracket according to any one of Examples 1 to 12, wherein one or more rows of the multi-row support bars each define a spiral pattern extending along and around the longitudinal axis.

[0112] Example 14: The bracket according to any one of Examples 12 and 13, wherein in one or more rows of support bars, the support bars in one or more rows define a varying longitudinal length along the longitudinal axis.

[0113] Example 15: The bracket according to any one of Examples 1 to 14, wherein each of the first plurality of vertices is longitudinally offset and circumferentially offset from each of the second plurality of vertices.

[0114] Example 16: A method comprising: receiving manufacturing data for manufacturing a support structure from a subtractive manufacturing assembly, the support structure comprising: multiple rows of support bars extending along a longitudinal axis, each row of support bars extending about the longitudinal axis; and multiple rows of connectors, each row of connectors extending between longitudinally adjacent rows of support bars; wherein the multiple rows of support bars and the multiple rows of connectors define a plurality of cell grids, wherein each cell grid is defined by: a first group of support bars in a first row of support bars, a second group of support bars in a second row of support bars, and two circumferentially adjacent connectors in a row of connectors in the plurality of rows, the row of connectors being located along the longitudinal axis in the first row of support bars. Between the first set of support bars and the second set of support bars, wherein within each cell grid, the first set of support bars defines a first plurality of vertices and the second set of support bars defines a second plurality of vertices, wherein within each cell grid, the first and second support bars in the first set of support bars define a first vertex having a first apex angle, and the second and third support bars in the first set of support bars define a second vertex having a second apex angle smaller than the first apex angle, and wherein within each cell grid, the fourth and fifth support bars in the second set of support bars define a third vertex having the first apex angle, and the fifth and sixth support bars define a fourth vertex having the second apex angle; and material is removed from the elongated body by the subtractive manufacturing component to form the support.

[0115] Example 17: According to the method of Example 16, the support is configured to be compressed along the longitudinal axis, wherein when the support is in the compressed configuration, the longitudinal distance between longitudinally adjacent rows of struts is reduced, and wherein the second apex angle is smaller than the first apex angle to reduce the contact between the first plurality of apexes and the second plurality of apexes when the support is in the compressed configuration.

[0116] Example 18: The method according to Example 17, wherein each cell grid extends from a first end to a second end around the longitudinal axis, wherein a first connector of two circumferentially adjacent connectors defines the first end, wherein a second connector of two circumferentially adjacent connectors defines the second end, wherein a first support bar is connected to the first connector, and wherein a fourth support bar is connected to the second connector.

[0117] Example 19: The method according to any one of Examples 16 to 18, wherein each connector in the multi-row connector extends along the longitudinal axis.

[0118] Example 20: The method according to any one of Examples 16 to 19, wherein for each cell grid, the first plurality of vertices includes a first plurality of peaks extending toward the distal end of the support and a first plurality of valleys extending toward the proximal end of the support, wherein for each cell grid, the second plurality of vertices includes a second plurality of peaks extending toward the distal end of the support and a second plurality of valleys extending toward the proximal end of the support, and wherein for each cell grid, the second vertex angle is smaller than the first vertex angle, such that each of the first plurality of peaks is circumferentially offset from each of the second plurality of valleys, and each of the first plurality of valleys is circumferentially offset from each of the second plurality of peaks.

[0119] Example 21: According to the method of Example 20, each of the first plurality of peaks is defined by a peak angle, each of the first plurality of valleys is defined by a valley angle, the peak angle of at least one of the first plurality of peaks is equal to the first vertex angle, the peak angle of the remaining number of peaks in the first plurality of peaks is equal to the second vertex angle, the valley angle of at least one of the first plurality of valleys is equal to the first vertex angle, and the valley angle of the remaining number of valleys in the first plurality of valleys is equal to the second vertex angle.

[0120] Example 22: The method according to any one of Examples 16 to 21, wherein the first vertex angle is less than or equal to 90 degrees.

[0121] Example 23: The method according to any one of Examples 16 to 22, wherein the difference between the first vertex angle and the second vertex angle is less than or equal to 20 degrees.

[0122] Example 24: The method according to any one of Examples 16 to 23, wherein each row of the multi-row support bars is centrally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis.

[0123] Example 25: The method according to any one of Examples 16 to 24, wherein each row of connectors in the multi-row connector is centrally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis.

[0124] Example 26: A method comprising: advancing a stent within a patient's body cavity to a target location, wherein the stent comprises: multiple rows of support bars extending along a longitudinal axis, each row of support bars extending about the longitudinal axis; and multiple rows of connectors, each row of connectors extending between longitudinally adjacent rows of support bars; wherein the multiple rows of support bars and the multiple rows of connectors define a plurality of unit grids, wherein each unit grid is defined by: a first group of support bars in a first row of support bars, a second group of support bars in a second row of support bars, and two circumferentially adjacent connectors in a row of connectors in the plurality of rows, the row of connectors being located along the longitudinal axis between the first row of support bars and the second row of support bars, wherein in each unit Within the grid, the first set of support bars defines a first plurality of vertices and the second set of support bars defines a second plurality of vertices, wherein within each cell grid, the first and second support bars in the first set of support bars define a first vertex having a first apex, and the second and third support bars in the first set of support bars define a second vertex having a second apex, the second apex being smaller than the first apex, and wherein within each cell grid, the fourth and fifth support bars in the second set of support bars define a third vertex having the first apex, and the fifth and sixth support bars define a fourth vertex having the second apex; and at the target location, the support expands radially outward from the longitudinal axis to position the support bars in the multiple rows of support bars juxtaposed with the surface of the body cavity at the target location.

[0125] Example 27: According to the method of Example 26, the support is configured to be compressed along the longitudinal axis, wherein when the support is in the compressed configuration, the longitudinal distance between longitudinally adjacent rows of struts is reduced, and wherein the second apex angle is smaller than the first apex angle to reduce the contact between the first plurality of apexes and the second plurality of apexes when the support is in the compressed configuration.

[0126] Example 28: The method according to Example 27, wherein when the stent is in the expanded configuration, the stent is configured to bend about a reference plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis in response to the curvature of the body cavity at the target location, wherein the bending of the stent about the reference plane causes at least a portion of the stent to transform into the compressed configuration, and wherein the second apex angle is smaller than the first apex angle to reduce contact between the first plurality of apexes and the second plurality of apexes when the stent bends about the reference plane.

[0127] Example 29: The method according to any one of Examples 27 and 28, wherein each of the first plurality of peaks is defined by a peak angle, each of the first plurality of valleys is defined by a valley angle, the peak angle of at least one of the first plurality of peaks is equal to the first vertex angle, the peak angle of the remaining number of peaks in the first plurality of peaks is equal to the second vertex angle, the valley angle of at least one of the first plurality of valleys is equal to the first vertex angle, and the valley angle of the remaining number of valleys in the first plurality of valleys is equal to the second vertex angle.

[0128] Example 30: The method according to any one of Examples 26 to 29, wherein each connector in the multi-row connector extends parallel to the longitudinal axis.

[0129] Example 31: The method according to any one of Examples 26 to 30, wherein the first vertex angle is less than or equal to 90 degrees.

[0130] Example 32: The method according to any one of Examples 26 to 31, wherein the difference between the first vertex angle and the second vertex angle is less than or equal to 20 degrees.

[0131] Example 33: The method according to any one of Examples 26 to 32, wherein each row of support bars in the multi-row support bars is centrally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis.

[0132] Various aspects of this disclosure have been described. These and other aspects are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A support, the support comprising: Multiple rows of support bars, the multiple rows of support bars extending along a longitudinal axis, each row of support bars extending around the longitudinal axis; and Multi-row connectors, where each row of connectors extends between longitudinally adjacent rows of support bars. The multi-row support bars and the multi-row connectors define multiple cell grids. Each cell grid is defined by the following: The first group of support bars in the first row of the multi-row support bars The second group of support bars in the second row of the multi-row support bars, and Two circumferentially adjacent connectors in one row of connectors from the plurality of rows, the row of connectors being located along the longitudinal axis between the first row of support bars and the second row of support bars. Within each cell grid, the first set of struts defines a first plurality of vertices, and the second set of struts defines a second plurality of vertices. Within each cell grid, the first and second struts of the first set of struts define a first vertex with a first apex angle, and the second and third struts of the first set of struts define a second apex angle with a second apex angle smaller than the first apex angle. Within each cell grid, the fourth and fifth struts of the second set of struts define a third vertex having the first apex, and the fifth and sixth struts define a fourth vertex having the second apex.

2. The support according to claim 1, wherein the support is configured to be compressed along the longitudinal axis, wherein when the support is in the compressed configuration, the longitudinal distance between longitudinally adjacent rows of struts is reduced, and wherein the second apex angle is smaller than the first apex angle to reduce the contact between the first plurality of apexes and the second plurality of apexes when the support is in the compressed configuration.

3. The bracket according to any one of claims 1 and 2, Each cell grid extends from the first end to the second end around the longitudinal axis. The first connector of the two circumferentially adjacent connectors defines the first end. The second connector of the two circumferentially adjacent connectors defines the second end. The first support bar is connected to the first connector, and The fourth support bar is connected to the second connector.

4. The bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each connector in the multi-row connector extends parallel to the longitudinal axis.

5. The bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 4, For each cell grid, the first plurality of vertices include a first plurality of peaks extending toward the distal end of the support and a first plurality of valleys extending toward the proximal end of the support. For each cell grid, the second plurality of vertices includes a second plurality of peaks extending toward the distal end of the support and a second plurality of valleys extending toward the proximal end of the support. For each cell grid, the second apex angle is smaller than the first apex angle, such that each of the first plurality of peaks is circumferentially offset from each of the second plurality of valleys, and each of the first plurality of valleys is circumferentially offset from each of the second plurality of peaks.

6. The bracket according to claim 5, Each of the first plurality of peaks is defined by a peak angle, and each of the first plurality of valleys is defined by a valley angle. The peak angle of at least one of the first plurality of peaks is equal to the first apex angle. The peak angle of the remaining number of peaks in the first plurality of peaks is equal to the second vertex angle. Wherein, the valley angle of at least one of the first plurality of valleys is equal to the first apex angle, and The valley angle of the remaining number of valleys in the first plurality of valleys is equal to the second vertex angle.

7. The bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first apex angle is less than or equal to 90 degrees.

8. The bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the difference between the first apex angle and the second apex angle is less than or equal to 20 degrees.

9. The bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein each row of the multiple rows of support bars is centrally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis.

10. The bracket according to claim 9, wherein each row of connectors in the multi-row connectors is centrally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis.

11. The bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the bracket is formed by laser cutting.

12. The support according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the multiple rows of support bars define a helical pattern along the longitudinal axis from the distal end of the support to the proximal end of the support.

13. The support according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein one or more of the multiple rows of support bars each defines a spiral pattern extending along and around the longitudinal axis.

14. The support according to any one of claims 12 and 13, wherein in one or more of the multiple rows of support bars, the support bars in the one or more rows define a varying longitudinal length along the longitudinal axis.

15. The bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein each of the first plurality of vertices is longitudinally and circumferentially offset from each of the second plurality of vertices.

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