Patent ID: 8337544
Filing Date: 2012-12-25
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. An endoprosthesis for delivery in a body lumen comprising: a web structure defining tubular body expandable from a contracted delivery configuration to an expanded deployed configuration; a plurality of longitudinally adjacent web rings defining the web structure, the longitudinally adjacent web rings being interconnected by a plurality of connector elements; a plurality of sequentially adjoined web elements defining each web ring, pairs of the web elements being adjoined at junction bends, each of the plurality of connector elements extending between a midpoint of a first junction bend in a first web ring and a midpoint of a second junction bend in an adjacently positioned second web ring, the connector element having a first strut, a second strut, and a third strut, each of the first strut, the second strut, and the third strut being oriented transverse relative to a longitudinal axis of the essentially tubular body, the first strut, the second strut, and the third strut being sequentially adjoined by first and second foot extensions, the first foot extension joining the first strut to the second strut and the second foot extension joining the second strut to the third strut, the first and second foot extensions including straight portions disposed lengthwise relative to the longitudinal axis and providing sole portions of the foot extensions and curved portions providing toe portions of the foot extensions, with each toe portion including a contoured portion configured to provide at least two areas of flexure, the contoured portion of the first foot extension including a first curved portion directed toward the second web ring and a second curved portion directed back toward the adjacently positioned first web ring and the contoured portion of the second foot extension including a first curved portion directed toward the first web ring and a second curved portion directed back toward the adjacently positioned second web ring, and the first and second toe portions being oriented such that the toe portion of the first foot extension is oriented toward the second web ring and the toe portion of the second foot extension is oriented toward the first web ring.