Patent ID: 9233014
Filing Date: 2016-01-12
CPC Classification: A61F

Claim Text:
1. A stent comprising: a plurality of radially expandable rings each having a contracted configuration suitable for delivery and a radially expanded configuration for engaging and supporting tissue, wherein each ring is formed from a plurality of interconnected struts, adjacent struts in each ring being connected together with a connector, and each ring having a proximal end, and a distal end, wherein the plurality of rings are coaxially aligned with one another to form a longitudinal axis, wherein a distal end of one ring faces a proximal end of an adjacent ring; and a plurality of bridges disposed between adjacent rings, the plurality of bridges coupling adjacent rings together, wherein one or more of the bridges comprise a first end, a second end, and a first brace element therebetween, wherein the first end of the bridge is coupled with the distal end of a first ring at a first connection point, and the second end of the bridge is coupled with the proximal end of an adjacent second ring at a second connection point, wherein the first brace element of one bridge and a second brace element of an adjacent bridge each comprise an upper engagement surface and a lower engagement surface, the upper and lower engagement surfaces of the first brace element extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the first brace element, the upper and lower engagement surfaces of the second brace element extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the second brace element, wherein substantially an entirety of the upper engagement surface of the first brace element engages substantially an entirety of the lower engagement surface of the second brace element of the adjacent bridge when the corresponding adjacent rings are in the contracted confinguration, and wherein the one or more bridges comprise a first arm and a second arm, with the first brace element disposed therebetween, a length of the first arm or the second arm is greater than a length of the first brace element and the first brace element is wider than the first arm or the second arm.