Patent ID: 9155642
Filing Date: 2015-10-13
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A stent comprising: first and second annular frames in alignment with each other to define a longitudinal axis, each annular frame having undulations circumscribing the longitudinal axis, the undulations including a plurality of struts traversing in generally opposed directions to define a plurality of end points disposed generally circumferentially about the longitudinal axis for the respective annular frame, the end points of the first annular frame in facing axial alignment with corresponding end points of adjacent annular frames when the stent is in an unexpanded configuration; at least one connector member coupled to a first pair of struts defining one endpoint of the first annular frame and a second pair of struts defining a second endpoint of the second annular frame, the struts of the first annular frame outside of the first pair of struts having generally the same length and the struts of the second annular frame outside of the second pair of struts having generally the same length, the first pair of struts having surfaces exposed to each other to define a first included angle different from a second included angle defined by the exposed surfaces of the second pair of struts so that end points of the first annular frame are offset in a circumferential direction with respect to the corresponding facing end points of an adjacent annular frame in an expanded configuration of the stent; and a third annular frame in alignment with the first and second annular frames, the third annular frame having undulations circumscribing the longitudinal axis, the undulations including a plurality of struts traversing in generally opposed directions to define a plurality of end points, a second connector member coupled to a third pair of struts defining a third endpoint of the second annular frame and a fourth pair of struts defining a fourth endpoint of the third annular frame, the third pair of struts having surfaces exposed to each other to define a third included angle different from a fourth included angle defined by the exposed surfaces of the fourth pair of struts, wherein the second included angle is generally the same as the fourth included angle, and one of the annular frames is connected to a terminal annular frame having closed diamond cells to define a cylinder about the longitudinal axis.