Patent ID: 11865019
Assignee: W.L. GORE & ASSOCIATES GMBH
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 15:
16. An endoprosthesis having a length, a radius, an inner circumference and an outer circumference, the endoprosthesis comprising:
adjacent stent elements formed of a first material;
a flexible connecting element formed of a second material, the second material being a polymeric material, the flexible connecting element spanning across a space between adjacent stent elements; and
wherein the flexible connecting element has a section modulus (Mr) in a direction aligned with the radius of the endoprosthesis and a section modulus (Mp) aligned in a direction perpendicular to the radius of the endoprosthesis, wherein Mr/Mp of the flexible connecting element is configured such that the flexible connecting element is configured to fold substantially within the inner circumference and the outer circumference of the endoprosthesis when the endoprosthesis is compacted longitudinally.