EXPANDABLE FRAMEWORK WITH OVERLAPPING CONNECTORS
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Abstract
A stent may comprise a plurality of serpentine bands and connectors. A first connector may overlap a second connector when the stent is unexpanded. The first connector may also overlap the second connector in an unexpanded state when the stent is subject to compressive forces in the local area of the connectors, such as when the connectors are located on the inside of a curve. The second connector may be shaped according to a rotation of the first connector about the centroid of the cell between the first connector and the second connector.
40 Citations
36 Claims
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1-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. A stent formed from a single piece of material, the stent comprising:
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a plurality of serpentine bands, said serpentine bands located adjacent one another in a stent longitudinal direction, each serpentine band consisting of elements that do not overlap in a stent radial direction; and a plurality of connectors, each connector attached to and spanning between two adjacent serpentine bands; wherein a first connector and a second connector overlap in a stent radial direction. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification