Patent ID: 6562065
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
An expandable medical device comprising:a cylindrical tube; and a plurality of axial slots formed in the cylindrical tube in a staggered arrangement to define a network of elongated struts, wherein each of the elongated struts are axially displaced from adjacent struts, the cylindrical tube being expandable or compressible from a first diameter to a second diameter; and a plurality of ductile hinges formed between the elongated struts, the ductile hinges allowing the cylindrical tube to be expanded or compressed from the first diameter to the second diameter by deformation of the ductile hinges, wherein the ductile hinges are asymmetrically configured to reach a predetermined strain level upon a first percentage of expansion and to reach the predetermined strain level upon a second percentage of compression, the first percentage being larger than the second percentage; wherein the elongated struts include a plurality of holes for containing a beneficial agent.