Patent ID: 9314354
Filing Date: 2016-04-19
CPC Classification: A61F,B33Y

Claim Text:
1. A stent that is expandable from an axially-radially nested unexpanded state to an expanded state, the stent comprising a tubular member having longitudinal, radial, and circumferential axes, the tubular member comprising: a first linkage strand and a second linkage strand, the first and second linkage strands each extending in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the first linkage strand having a first plurality of central bodies connected in an end-to-end fashion via first curved s-shaped flexible portions such that longitudinally adjacent central bodies of the first plurality of central bodies are circumferentially and longitudinally offset, the second linkage strand having a second plurality of central bodies connected in an end-to-end fashion via second curved s-shaped flexible portions such that longitudinally adjacent central bodies of the second plurality of central bodies are circumferentially and longitudinally offset, wherein each of the central bodies in the first and second pluralities of central bodies comprises a first circumferential side, a second circumferential side, and a plurality of elongate interconnection members, each of the plurality of elongate interconnection members having an interlocking end and extending from the first circumferential side in a direction substantially parallel to the circumferential axis; and a plurality of connectors, the connectors each having a plurality of connection points and a plurality of engagement apertures, wherein: each of the connection points extends circumferentially through the respective connector and is configured to receive the interlocking end of one of the plurality of interconnection members of one of the central bodies of the first linkage strand, the interlocking end configured to engage with the connector during expansion of the stent from an axially-radially nested unexpanded state to an expanded state, such engagement inhibiting relative movement of the interlocking end and the connector in at least one circumferential direction; and each of the engagement apertures extends circumferentially through the respective connector and is configured to receive one of the plurality of interconnection members of one of the central bodies of the second linkage strand, the interconnection member configured to provide one-way movement of the second linkage strand relative to the connector during expansion of the stent from the axially-radially nested unexpanded state to the expanded state; and wherein a first circumferential side of each of the one of the plurality of connectors is the side from which the interlocking end is received into the connection point and from which the interconnection member is received into the engagement aperture.