Patent ID: 6342067
Filing Date: 2002-01-29
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A stent for insertion into a vessel of a patient, said stent comprising;a) a tubular member having a thickness and having front and back open ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said member having a first smaller diameter for insertion into said vessel, and a second larger diameter for deployment into said vessel; b) said tubular member comprising a plurality of adjacent hoops extending between said front and back ends, said hoops comprising a plurality of longitudinal struts and a plurality of loops connecting adjacent struts; and c) a plurality of bridges connecting adjacent hoops to one another at bridge to loop connection points, wherein said stent has end hoops at the front and back ends thereof wherein said end hoops have bridges connecting every other loop on said end hoops to a loop its adjacent hoop the number of bridge to loop connection points being less than the total number of loops on a hoop, wherein said connection points are separated angularly with respect to said longitudinal axis, said bridges having a non-linear curved profile between said bridge to loop connection points.