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Axially flexible stent

  • US 5,980,553 A
  • Filed: 04/07/1997
  • Issued: 11/09/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An expandable stent in an unexpanded configuration having first and second ends with an intermediate section therebetween, the stent further having a longitudinal axis and providing axial flexibility along the length of the stent, comprising:

  • a plurality of longitudinally disposed bands, wherein each band defines a generally continuous wave having a spatial frequency along a line segment parallel to the longitudinal axis, the spatial frequency at the first and second ends being decreased 0-50% with respect to the spatial frequency of the intermediate section; and

    a plurality of links for maintaining the bands in a tubular structure, wherein the links are so disposed that any single circumferential path formed by the links is discontinuous.

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