Patent ID: 6468302
Filing Date: 2002-10-22
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A longitudinally flexible stent for implanting in a body lumen and expandable from a contracted condition to an expanded condition, comprising:a plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements, each cylindrical element having a circumference extending around a longitudinal stent axis, being substantially independently expandable in the radial direction, wherein the plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements are arranged in alignment along the longitudinal stent axis and define a first end section, a second end section, and a center section therebetween; each cylindrical element having struts having a constant thickness formed in a generally serpentine wave pattern transverse to the longitudinal axis and containing alternating valley portions and peak portions; a plurality of interconnecting members extending between the adjacent cylindrical elements and connecting the adjacent cylindrical elements to one another; and wherein the struts of the cylindrical element in the first end section have a greater mass through a longer strut length than the struts of the cylindrical elements in the center section.