Patent ID: 9155644
Filing Date: 2015-10-13
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A tubular flexible stent having proximal and distal end portions and a cylindrical shape, with luminal and abluminal surfaces and a thickness there between, the cylindrical shape defining a longitudinal axis, the tubular flexible stent comprising: a helical section having a plurality of longitudinally oriented strut members and a plurality of circumferentially oriented hinge members connecting circumferentially adjacent strut members to form a band wherein the hinge members have a narrower width than the strut members and wherein the strut members are not shorter than the hinge members, the band being wrapped about the longitudinal axis in a substantially helical manner to form a plurality of helical windings, the helical section further comprising a proximal section, a distal section and an intermediate section there between; and a plurality of connector members not connected to the hinge members and extending between longitudinally adjacent strut member ends of longitudinally adjacent helical windings of the band, such that strut members connected by the connector members are not shorter than strut members not connected by the connector members, wherein the number of circumferentially adjacent connector members per winding in the intermediate section is greater than the number of circumferentially adjacent connector members per winding in the proximal or distal sections.