Patent ID: 6461381
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A stent for implanting in the body and expanding to hold open a blood vessel, which stent both before and after its intended expansion, comprises:a) a body-compatible metal mesh defining a tube having a plurality of longitudinally adjacent contiguous cells, each of the cells comprising one pair of longitudinally facing loops, each longitudinally facing loop having a generally curved apex and having portions with a substantial longitudinal component extending from said apex, said portions forming walls of the cells, wherein at least some of said portions are also walls of longitudinally adjacent cells, the pair of longitudinally facing loops generally opposite to and facing one another, each of the facing loops adapted to open further upon radial expansion of the stent which tends to foreshorten the stent longitudinally, and b) each of the cells further comprising a pair of members that include flexible curved portions, which members are disposed between the adjacent pair of facing loops and integral therewith to complete each of the cells, the pair of members made of a metal such that, upon curvature of the stent, the members will bend to facilitate flexing of the stent along the longitudinal axis and will, upon expansion of the stent, bend to substantially offset foreshortening along the longitudinal axis.