Patent ID: 6224626
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: A61F,A61L

Abstract:
An expandable intraluminal stent comprising:a tubular member comprising a series of slideably engaged ladder elements, each ladder element comprising at least two radially disposed elongated ribs, each having two ends, and at least two end rungs, wherein an end rung is permanently, non-slideably affixed to each end of each elongated rib, such that each of said ribs has no protruding ends when said tubular member is in either a first collapsed diameter or a second expanded diameter;wherein an elongated rib from a first ladder element is slidably engaged by a portion of an end rung from a second ladder element, such that radial sliding of the ladder elements creates a variable radial distance between the end rungs of the first and second ladder elements;said tubular member having said first diameter in which the distance between end rungs of the first and second ladder elements is collapsed; andsaid tubular member having said second diameter in which the distance between end rungs of the first and second ladder elements is expanded.