Patent ID: 6699281
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A stent for use at an implant site in a vessel comprising a radially expandable tubular body and an active agent for treatment of the implant site, the tubular body having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the tubular body including a plurality of sinusoidal shaped annular elements and a plurality of lambda shaped connection elements, each annular element being connected to at least one other annular element by a plurality of connection elements, each annular element and each connection element having a rectilinear portion and a curved portion, the exterior surface of the tubular body having a plurality of recesses positioned only in the rectilinear portions, the plurality of recesses being substantially continuous on the exterior surface of the rectilinear portions of the stent, the active agent being contained within the recesses, the recesses conferring on the rectilinear portion where they are positioned a hollowed sectional profile of which the recesses occupy from 10% to 60% of the area of the sectional profile, the geometry of the recesses being such that bending moments of inertia of the portions containing the recesses are not substantially reduced.