Tubular Stent with Rotatable Connections and Method of Making
First Claim
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1. A method of making a tubular stent comprising the steps of:
- aligning a first cylindrical element and a second cylindrical element adjacent to each other along a common longitudinal axis, wherein the first and second cylindrical elements each include a wire in a zigzag configuration defined by a series of generally straight segments interconnected by crowns;
mounting at least one connecting ring on the first cylindrical element such that the wire of the first cylindrical element is rotatably disposed through a lumen of the connecting ring and the wire of the second cylindrical element is disposed abutting an exterior surface of the connecting ring; and
fusing the exterior surface of the connecting ring to the wire of the second cylindrical element to rotatably connect the first cylindrical element to the second cylindrical element.
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Abstract
A tubular stent includes a plurality of bands aligned generally along a common longitudinal axis. A first band has a plurality of first crowns and a second band adjacent to the first band has a plurality of second crowns. A connecting ring connects the first band to the second band, wherein one of the first crowns is rotatably disposed through a lumen of the connecting ring and one of the second crowns is fused to the wall of the connecting ring outside of the lumen of the connecting ring. Methods of making tubular stents with rotatable connections are also disclosed.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of making a tubular stent comprising the steps of:
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aligning a first cylindrical element and a second cylindrical element adjacent to each other along a common longitudinal axis, wherein the first and second cylindrical elements each include a wire in a zigzag configuration defined by a series of generally straight segments interconnected by crowns; mounting at least one connecting ring on the first cylindrical element such that the wire of the first cylindrical element is rotatably disposed through a lumen of the connecting ring and the wire of the second cylindrical element is disposed abutting an exterior surface of the connecting ring; and fusing the exterior surface of the connecting ring to the wire of the second cylindrical element to rotatably connect the first cylindrical element to the second cylindrical element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A flexible tubular stent comprising:
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a plurality of cylindrical bands aligned generally along a common longitudinal axis, wherein the plurality of bands includes at least a first band having a plurality of first crowns and a second band adjacent to the first band and having a plurality of second crowns; and a ring connecting one of the first crowns to one of the second crowns, wherein the first crown is rotatably disposed through a lumen of the ring and the second crown is fused to a wall of the ring and is disposed outside of the lumen of the ring. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification