[ 0023 ] fig1 illustrates a self - expanding stent device which is laser cut to form a thin - walled , skeletal tubular member 11 comprised of nickel - titanium alloy . once cut , the wall of the tubular member 11 includes several openings , or cells 14 . when the skeletal tubular member 11 is placed over an aneurysm , a physician is able to deliver embolic coils or other such devices through the cells 14 and into the aneurysm . the tubular member 11 also functions to cover the mouth of the aneurysm thus obstructing , or partially obstructing , the flow of blood into the aneurysm . also , the tubular member 11 prevents medical devices such as embolic coils from escaping the aneurysm . the preferred length of the skeletal tubular member 11 may range from 0 . 0795 inches to 3 . 15 inches . the diameter of the tubular member 11 varies depending on its deployment configuration . in a non - deployed or expanded state , the diameter of the tubular member 11 may extend up to about 0 . 4 inches . when the skeletal tubular member 11 is compressed to fit within the lumen of a deployment catheter , the diameter may be reduce to about 0 . 014 inches . attached to the proximal end 16 of the skeletal tubular member 11 are three proximal legs 18 , 18 a , and 18 b that extend longitudinally from the tubular member 11 . the proximal legs 18 , 18 a , and 18 b are preferably biased outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the tubular member 11 . this outwardly biased configuration aids in the deployment system as subsequently described . t - shaped or i - shaped attachment flanges 20 , 20 a , and 20 b are attached to the tips of each proximal leg 18 , 18 a , and 18 b . fig1 a describes the t - shaped or i - shaped flanges 20 , 20 a , and 20 b in more detail . attached to the distal end 21 of the skeletal tubular member 11 are two distal legs 22 and 22 a that extend longitudinally away from the tubular member 11 . [ 0027 ] fig1 a illustrates in detail one of the t - shaped or i - shaped attachment flanges 20 which is also laser cut from the skeletal tubular member 11 at the proximal end of one of the proximal legs 18 . the t - shaped or i - shaped attachment flange 20 is slightly arched and oriented on the proximal leg 18 such that the arch coincides with the wall 12 of the tubular member 11 . [ 0028 ] fig2 illustrates the repetitive cell pattern of the skeletal tubular member 11 . the cell pattern may be formed by interconnected undulating members 24 and struts 26 . each strut 26 has a proximal end 28 and a distal end 30 . each undulating member 24 has a proximal end 32 , a plurality of peaks 34 , and a distal end 36 . the proximal end 32 is the left tip of an undulating member 24 . the peaks 34 are the highest and lowest points of an undulating member 24 . the distal end 36 is the right tip of an undulating member 24 . the undulating members 24 and struts 26 are interconnected in a way to maximize “ nesting ” of the undulating members 24 to thereby minimize the compressed diameter of the skeletal tubular member 11 during deployment . the proximal end 28 of each strut 26 is attached to a peak 34 of an undulating member 24 and the distal end 30 of the same strut 26 is attached to a peak 34 of an adjacent undulating member 24 . this interconnection of undulating members 24 and struts 26 permits the cells 14 of the skeletal tubular member 11 to collapse and allows the tubular member 11 to attain a compressed diameter . the repetitive cell pattern of the skeletal tubular member 11 may also be formed by interconnected sinusoidal members 38 and struts 26 . each sinusoidal member 38 has a proximal end 40 , a plurality of positive peaks 42 , a plurality of negative peaks 44 , and a distal end 45 . the proximal end 40 is the left tip of a sinusoidal member 38 . the positive peaks 42 are the highest points of a sinusoidal member 38 . the negative peaks 44 are the lowest points of a sinusoidal member 38 . the distal end 45 is the right tip of a sinusoidal member 38 . the sinusoidal members 38 and struts 26 are interconnected in a way to maximize “ nesting ” of the sinusoidal members 38 thereby minimizing the compressed diameter of the skeletal tubular member 11 during deployment . each strut 26 connects a positive peak 42 of a sinusoidal member 38 with a negative peak 44 of an adjacent sinusoidal member 38 . this interconnection of sinusoidal members 38 and struts 26 permits the cells 14 of the skeletal tubular member 11 to collapse and allows the tubular member 11 to attain a compressed diameter . also illustrated in fig2 are the proximal legs 18 , 18 a , and 18 b and the distal legs 22 and 22 a . in the repetitive cell pattern formed by undulating members 24 and struts 26 , the proximal legs 18 , 18 a , and 18 b are connected to the proximal ends 32 of undulating members 24 , and the distal legs 22 and 22 a are connected to the distal ends 36 of undulating members 24 . in the repetitive cell pattern formed by sinusoidal members 38 and struts 26 , the proximal legs 18 , 18 a , and 18 b are connected to the proximal ends 40 of sinusoidal members 38 , and the distal legs 22 and 22 a are connected to the distal ends 45 of sinusoidal members 38 . it should be understood that the stent device of the present invention may alternatively be coated with an agent , such as heparin or rapamycin , to prevent stenosis or restenosis of the vessel . examples of such coatings are disclosed in u . s . pat . nos . 5 , 288 , 711 ; 5 , 516 , 781 ; 5 , 563 , 146 and 5 , 646 , 160 . the disclosures in these patents are incorporated herein by reference . [ 0034 ] fig3 illustrates the deployment system 46 for the stent device 10 . the deployment system 46 includes an outer sheath 48 which is essentially an elongated tubular member , similar to ordinary guiding catheters which are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art . the deployment system 46 also includes an inner shaft 50 located coaxially within the outer sheath 48 prior to deployment . the inner shaft 50 has a distal end 52 and a proximal end ( not shown ). the distal end 52 of the shaft 50 has three grooves 54 , 54 a , and 54 b disposed thereon . when the deployment system 46 is not fully deployed , the stent device 10 is located within the outer sheath 48 . the t - shaped or i - shaped attachment flanges 20 , 20 a , and 20 b on the proximal legs 18 , 18 a , and 18 b of the tubular member 11 are set within the grooves 54 , 54 a , and 54 b of the inner shaft 50 , thereby releasably attaching the stent device 10 to the inner shaft 50 . this deployment system is described in more detail in u . s . pat . no . 6 , 267 , 783 assigned to the same assignee as the present patent application . the disclosure in this patent is incorporated herein by reference and made a part of the present patent application . a novel system has been disclosed in which a self - expanding stent device comprises a laser cut , skeletal tubular member having a plurality of cells . although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described , it is to be understood that various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the claims which follow .
a very small diameter intravascular stent device which may be used to occlude or partially occlude an aneurysm in the human brain which is comprised of a thin - walled skeletal cylindrical tube formed of undulating or sinusoidal elements which , when compressed , nest tightly with each other .