Patent ID: 9427306
Filing Date: 2016-08-30
CPC Classification: A61F,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A stent assembly comprising: a first support ring having interconnected circumferentially alternating first inner prongs and first outer prongs, the first inner prongs defining a first inner diameter around a central longitudinal axis, and the first outer prongs defining a first outer diameter around the central longitudinal axis greater than the first inner diameter; a second support ring spaced from the first support ring along the central longitudinal axis, the second support ring having interconnected circumferentially alternating second inner prongs and second outer prongs, the second inner prongs defining a second inner diameter around the central longitudinal axis, and the second outer prongs defining a second outer diameter around the central longitudinal axis greater than the second inner diameter; longitudinal channels defined between an inner prong of the first support ring and an inner prong of the second support ring; a billowing graft engaging at least a portion of one or more of the first support ring and the second support ring, the billowing graft when in a relaxed state follows a waving peripheral path along the longitudinal channels at least partially around at least one of the first support ring and second support ring, wherein the billowing graft engaging the first support ring and the second support ring at about the longitudinal channels creates longitudinal grooves, wherein at least two of the longitudinal grooves extend in a direction that is parallel to a direction of a central axis extending along a length of the stent assembly, wherein the at least two of the longitudinal grooves extend between the first support ring and the second support ring and define an outwardly extending planar shelf between the at least two of the longitudinal grooves and along a length of the billowing graft.