Patent ID: 7326243
Filing Date: 2008-02-05
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A tubular stent comprising a plurality of serpentine bands which form closed paths about a circumference of the stent, the serpentine bands having alternating peaks and troughs, the peaks of one serpentine band being out of phase an intermediate angle between 0 and 180 degrees with the peaks of an adjacent band, serpentine bands which are adjacent one another connected by at least one connector, the at least one connector having at least one bend therein and having a first end and a second end, the first end extending from a serpentine band at a position closer to midway between the peak and the trough than to the peak, the second end extending from an adjacent serpentine band at a position closer to midway between the peak and the trough than to the peak, the at least one connector comprising a central region between the first and second ends, at least a portion of each central region comprising a first U-shaped link and a second U-shaped link, each first U-shaped link opening in a first substantially circumferential direction and each second U-shaped link opening in a second substantially circumferential direction substantially opposite the first substantially circumferential direction, at least a portion of the first U-shaped link and at least a portion of the second U-shaped link having a shared portion, the shared portion disposed between one of the peaks on one segment and one of the troughs on an adjacent segment.