Patent ID: 8246674
Filing Date: 2012-08-21
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. An endoprosthesis for delivery in a body lumen comprising: a web structure defining an essentially tubular body expandable from a contracted configuration to an expanded configuration; a plurality of longitudinally adjacent web rings defining the web structure; and a plurality of sequentially adjoined web elements defining the web rings, the web elements being disposed substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the essentially tubular body when in the contracted configuration, pairs of the web elements being sequentially adjoined at junction bends, wherein a first junction bend in a first web ring is connected to a second junction bend in a second web ring by a connector having a first strut and a second strut, the first strut and second strut being essentially parallel one to the other with a space between at least a portion of the first strut and the second strut, the connector having at least a first foot extension joining the first strut to the second strut at the second junction bend, the first foot extension including a first member extending from the first strut and providing a sole portion of the first foot extension, and a second member interposed between the sole portion and the second strut and providing the toe portion of the first foot extension, the toe portion of the first foot extension extending away from the second junction bend in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, with an apex of the toe portion being spaced apart from the second web ring, wherein the sole portion has an essentially rectilinear shape and the toe portion has an essentially arcuate shape, and wherein the first junction bend forms a closed cell with the first strut, the second strut, and the first foot extension.