Patent ID: 6200337
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A stent for body implanting in the form of a generally tubular member having an axis and a diameter allowing for insertion into a body passageway and radially expandable upon application of a radially outward extending force from the interior of the tubular member, said stent comprising a series of annular units arranged in an axial direction of the stent, each said annular unit comprising a plurality of closed cell generally rhombic elements arranged so as to surround the stent axis, said elements being elongate in an axial direction of the stent and having a center generally rhombic opening, and a corresponding plurality of tie members each connecting circumferentially opposed ends of adjacent elements, adjacent annular units being interconnected at their tie members by at least one connecting member, and wherein two adjacent generally rhombic elements of one annular unit and the tie member connecting them define therebetween a generally V-shaped or trapezoidal space into which an axial end portion of one generally rhombic element of an adjacent annular unit extends.