Patent ID: 6976993
Filing Date: 2005-12-20
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A stent, in particular a coronary stent, for expansion from a first condition into an expanded second condition in which it holds a vessel in an expanded state, said stent comprising: a tubular body, a peripheral surface of which is formed by a plurality of support portions that extend in a longitudinal direction of the stent, the support portions comprising: a plurality of bar elements wherein each end of each bar element, excepting bar elements on the ends of the tubular body, connects to an adjacent bar element, forming an angle of between 80° and 100°; and a plurality of connecting bars extending substantially rectilinearly in the longitudinal direction of the stent that connect the bar elements; wherein the support portions form a plurality of support portion groups with at least a first support portion and a second support portion in adjacent relationship thereto in a peripheral direction of the stent, the bar elements of which extend in a meander configuration in the longitudinal direction of the stent, and wherein a first engagement point of the connecting bars engages the first support portion and a second engagement point of the connecting bars engages the second support portion, such that the first and second engagement points are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the stent and the connecting bars are configured and arranged so the spacing in the longitudinal direction between the first and second engagement points decreases upon expansion of the stent to compensate for a reduction in length of the respective support portions.