Stents for supporting lumens in living tissue
First Claim
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1. The method of making an annular, axially extending stent for insertion into a tubular body structure to radially support the tubular body structure, said method comprising the steps of:
- forming a first annular axial portion and a second annular axial portion of said stent so that said first portion is circumferentially strong relative to said second portion, said second portion being axially spaced from said first portion;
wherein said first portion is formed as an axially medial portion of said stent, and wherein said second portion is formed as an axially end portion of said stent.
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Abstract
A stent for helping to hold open a lumen in a tubular body structure has at least one axial portion (preferably an axial end portion) that stents the surrounding portion of the tubular body structure to a lesser degree than another axial portion of the stent. For example, the stent portion that stents to a lesser degree may be circumferentially weaker than the other stent portion, or it may recoil more than the other stent portion after the stent is applied by being circumferentially expanded and then released.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. The method of making an annular, axially extending stent for insertion into a tubular body structure to radially support the tubular body structure, said method comprising the steps of:
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forming a first annular axial portion and a second annular axial portion of said stent so that said first portion is circumferentially strong relative to said second portion, said second portion being axially spaced from said first portion; wherein said first portion is formed as an axially medial portion of said stent, and wherein said second portion is formed as an axially end portion of said stent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. The method of making an annular, axially extending stent for insertion into a tubular body structure, said method comprising the steps of:
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forming a first annular axial portion and a second annular axial portion of said stent so that said first portion has a low yield strength relative to said second portion;
said second portion being axially spaced from said first portion;wherein said first portion is formed as an axially medial portion of said stent, and wherein said second portion is formed as an axial end portion of said stent. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification