Patent ID: 6610087
Filing Date: 2003-08-26
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A modular elongated stent for holding open a body lumen and for assembly in situ, the stent comprising at least a first component and a second component, the stent having an assembled configuration comprising the first component and the second component assembled together, the stent comprising:an overlap region in the first component adapted to receive a portion of the second component in the assembled configuration, the overlap region having a first set of manipulation properties in the assembled configuration; one or more flexible regions attached to the overlap region, each flexible region having a second set of manipulation properties different than the first set of manipulation properties, the second set of manipulation properties comprising at least one property selected from the group consisting of: greater flexibility than the first set of manipulation properties, greater kink resistance than the first set of manipulation properties, or less radial strength than the first set of manipulation properties; a mimic region attached to the flexible region, the mimic region having a third set of manipulation properties that is essentially equivalent to the first set of manipulation properties; and at least one transition region between the mimic region and the flexible region adapted to have an intermediate set of manipulation properties between the first set of manipulation properties and the second set of manipulation properties, the at least one transition region comprising a bridging material attached to the stent, the bridging material comprising a discrete portion thereof extending into the mimic region.