초록 ▼

The present invention, in an exemplary embodiment, provides a stent, which combines many of the excellent characteristics of both silicone and metal stents while eliminating the undesirable ones. In particular, a principal objective in accordance with the present invention is to provide a family of

The present invention, in an exemplary embodiment, provides a stent, which combines many of the excellent characteristics of both silicone and metal stents while eliminating the undesirable ones. In particular, a principal objective in accordance with the present invention is to provide a family of stents where the relative hardness/softness of regions of the stent can differ from other regions of the stent to provide additional patient comfort and resistance to compression forces. Exemplary embodiments provide a stent that is coated in a manner that limits the amount of coating surface area that is in direct contact with the target lumen. In particular, a covered stent is provided that is coated internally such that the outer scaffolding surface of the stent is raised from the outer surface of the coating. To this end, cilia function is only partially limited and mucociliary clearance is not significantly affected. Moreover, the coating itself has anti-adherent properties such that bacteria, fungi or other microbials cannot colonize the cover in particular and the stent generally.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A medical appliance for placement within a portion of the anatomy of a patient, the appliance comprising: a scaffolding, the scaffolding configured to define a substantially cylindrical member having a distal end and a proximal end and extending longitudinally there between,

What is claimed is: 1. A medical appliance for placement within a portion of the anatomy of a patient, the appliance comprising: a scaffolding, the scaffolding configured to define a substantially cylindrical member having a distal end and a proximal end and extending longitudinally there between, forming a lumen there through, along the longitudinal extension of the appliance the scaffolding having an interior and an exterior surface comprising struts; and a coating coupled with the scaffolding such that the exterior surface of the scaffolding is raised with respect to the coating extending substantially over an area between the struts of the scaffolding. 2. The medical appliance of claim 1, wherein the coating is coupled with the scaffolding such that both the struts and the area between the struts are coated, the coating of sufficient thickness to prevent the medical appliance from becoming epithelialized when installed in the desired portion of the patient's anatomy. 3. The medical appliance of claim 2, wherein the coating is substantially hydrophobic. 4. The medical appliance of claim 3, wherein the coating is hydroscopic. 5. The medical appliance of claim 2, wherein the coating is substantially hydrophilic. 6. The medical appliance of claim 5, wherein the coating is substantially hydroscopic. 7. The medical appliance of claim 2, wherein the coating does not inhibit flexing or radial expansion of the medical appliance. 8. The medical appliance of claim 7, wherein the coating is coupled with the medical appliance from the interior surface of the scaffolding outward. 9. The medical appliance of claim 8, wherein the coating is coupled with the medical appliance from the exterior surface of the scaffolding inward. 10. The medical appliance of claim 2, wherein the coating is coupled with the medical appliance from the exterior surface of the scaffolding inward. 11. The medical appliance of claim 10, wherein the coated struts on the exterior surface of the scaffolding are raised with respect to the coated area between the struts of the medical appliance. 12. The medical appliance of claim 11, wherein the coated strut is raised between 1 Å to 106 Å with respect to the coated area between the struts of the medical appliance. 13. The medical appliance of claim 11, wherein the relative extent to which the coated struts are raised with respect to the coated areas between the struts is sufficient to allow cilia function at the cite of implantation. 14. The medical appliance of claim 1, wherein at least one strut defines an aperture there through. 15. The medical appliance of claim 14, wherein the at least one aperture defines an eyelet of sufficient diameter to receive suture. 16. The medical appliance of claim 15, wherein the eyelet diameter is at least 300 μm. 17. The medical appliance of claim 1, wherein the dimensions of the scaffolding geometry determine torsionality of the medical appliance. 18. The medical appliance of claim 1, wherein the scaffolding is formed of a memory capable alloy. 19. The medical appliance of claim 18, wherein the scaffolding is electropolished. 20. The medical appliance of claim 1, wherein along the longitudinal expanse of the scaffolding the medical appliance further comprise a plurality of flanges that define apertures there through. 21. The medical appliance of claim 1, further comprising a connector coupled with portions of the geometrical patterns, the connector comprising a crossing member and a plurality of leg members extending from the crossing member. 22. The medical appliance of claim 21, wherein the connector further comprises a rectangular detent extending from a leg thereof. 23. The medical appliance of claim 21, wherein a length of the leg members and an angle at which the legs extend from the crossing member determines the relative flexibility of the medical appliance. 24. The medical appliance of claim 23, wherein the angle at which the leg members extend from the crossing member is 90° or less. 25. The medical appliance of claim 24, wherein the medical appliance is relatively flexible. 26. The medical appliance of claim 23, wherein the angle at which the leg members extend from the crossing member is greater than 90°. 27. The medical appliance of claim 26, wherein the medical appliance is relatively rigid. 28. The medical appliance of claim 1, further comprising an additional distal end wherein the medical appliance forms a substantially Y-shape. 29. The medical appliance of claim 28, wherein the additional distal end comprises scaffolding having at least one strut defining an aperture there through. 30. The medical appliance of claim 29, wherein the at least one aperture defines an eyelet of sufficient diameter to receive suture. 31. The medical appliance of claim 30, wherein the eyelet diameter is at least 300 μm. 32. The medical appliance of claim 28, wherein along a longitudinal axis of the medical appliance and the additional distal end, the scaffolding forms geometrical patterns. 33. The medical appliance of claim 32, wherein the scaffolding further comprises a coating coupled with the scaffolding, the coating of sufficient thickness to prevent the medical appliance from becoming epithelialized when installed in the desired portion of the patient's anatomy. 34. The medical appliance of claim 33, wherein the dimensions of the scaffolding geometry determine torsionality of the medical appliance. 35. The medical appliance of claim 34, wherein the scaffolding is formed of a memory capable alloy. 36. The medical appliance of claim 34, wherein the scaffolding is electropolished. 37. The medical appliance of claim 33, wherein near the distal and proximal ends of the scaffolding the medical appliance further comprise a plurality of flanges that define apertures there through. 38. The medical appliance of claim 28, further comprising a connector member coupled with portions of the geometrical patterns, the connector comprising a crossing member and a plurality of leg members extending from the crossing member. 39. The medical appliance of claim 38, wherein the connector further comprises a rectangular detent extending from a leg thereof. 40. The medical appliance of claim 38, wherein a length of the leg members or a degree of an angle at which the legs extend from the crossing member positively contributes to the relative flexibility of the medical appliance. 41. The medical appliance of claim 40, wherein the angle at which the leg members extend from the crossing member is greater than 90°. 42. The medical appliance of claim 41, wherein the medical appliance is relatively rigid. 43. The medical appliance of claim 40, wherein the angle at which the leg members extend from the crossing member is 90° or less. 44. The medical appliance of claim 43, wherein the medical appliance is relatively flexible.