Non-foreshortening intraluminal prosthesis
First Claim
1. A stent comprising:
- a plurality of annular elements, each annular element having a compressed state and an expanded state, wherein each annular element has a longitudinal dimension which is smaller in the expanded state than in the compressed state; and
at least one connecting member connecting adjacent annular elements, the connecting member operating to compensate for the smaller longitudinal dimension of the annular elements in the expanded state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An intraluminal prosthesis is provided with a plurality of annular elements. Each annular element includes a plurality of struts and apices connected to form an annular configuration. Each annular element has a compressed state and an expanded state, and has a longitudinal dimension which is smaller in the expanded state than in the compressed state. A plurality of connecting members connect the apices of adjacent annular elements. The connecting members have a plurality of alternating segments that function to compensate for the smaller longitudinal dimension of each annular element in the expanded state. The stent may be provided with varying flexibility along its length and/or circumference, and may include segments that have different diameters.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A stent comprising:
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a plurality of annular elements, each annular element having a compressed state and an expanded state, wherein each annular element has a longitudinal dimension which is smaller in the expanded state than in the compressed state; and
at least one connecting member connecting adjacent annular elements, the connecting member operating to compensate for the smaller longitudinal dimension of the annular elements in the expanded state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A stent having a plurality of segments along its length and comprising:
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a plurality of annular elements, each annular element having a compressed state and an expanded state;
at least one connecting member connecting adjacent annular elements; and
a plurality of apertures defined by adjacent annular elements and connecting members;
wherein the apertures of different stent segments have different sizes. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A stent having a plurality of segments and comprising:
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a plurality of annular elements, each annular element having a compressed state and an expanded state;
at least one connecting member connecting adjacent annular elements; and
means for providing two of the plurality of segments of the stent with different degrees of flexibility. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification