Flexible stent with effective strut and connector patterns
First Claim
1. An expandable stent comprising:
- a plurality of rows of circularly arranged elongated members situated side by side in a longitudinal axis, each row of the elongated members including first and second elongated members disposed on an imaginary circular surface and inclining in a same direction relative to an imaginary line extending on the imaginary circular surface parallel to the longitudinal axis, and joint portions, each joint portion connecting ends of the first and second elongated members so that the first and second elongated members extend continuously through the joint portions, anda plurality of rows of circularly arranged connectors situated between two adjacent rows of the circularly arranged elongated members for connecting the same, each connector having a vertical portion substantially perpendicular to the imaginary line extending on the imaginary circular surface and upper and lower end portions extending laterally in opposite directions from ends of the vertical portion, said upper and lower end portions being connected to the joint portions in the two adjacent rows of the circularly arranged elongated members so that the connectors provide flexibility along the longitudinal axis and reduce longitudinal movement of the stent when the stent is expanded.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A stent for the reinforcement of a blood vessel which comprises a plurality of circularly arranged elongated struts inclined in the same direction relative to an imaginary line on the outer surface of the circularly dimensioned stent. The struts include joint members for joining adjacent elongated struts within the same circular row in a continuous manner. Connector members are formed to the joint members and include a verticle, relative to the longitudinal axis of the stent, portion to which oppositely extending end portions connect to adjacent rows of the joint members of the circumferentially arranged joint members of the elongated members so that the connectors provide flexibility along the longitudinal axis and reduce longitudinal movement of the stent when the stent is expanded.
394 Citations
6 Claims
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1. An expandable stent comprising:
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a plurality of rows of circularly arranged elongated members situated side by side in a longitudinal axis, each row of the elongated members including first and second elongated members disposed on an imaginary circular surface and inclining in a same direction relative to an imaginary line extending on the imaginary circular surface parallel to the longitudinal axis, and joint portions, each joint portion connecting ends of the first and second elongated members so that the first and second elongated members extend continuously through the joint portions, and a plurality of rows of circularly arranged connectors situated between two adjacent rows of the circularly arranged elongated members for connecting the same, each connector having a vertical portion substantially perpendicular to the imaginary line extending on the imaginary circular surface and upper and lower end portions extending laterally in opposite directions from ends of the vertical portion, said upper and lower end portions being connected to the joint portions in the two adjacent rows of the circularly arranged elongated members so that the connectors provide flexibility along the longitudinal axis and reduce longitudinal movement of the stent when the stent is expanded. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification