Patent ID: 6569193
Filing Date: 2003-05-27
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A longitudinally flexible stent for implanting in a body lumen and expandable from a contracted state to an expanded state, comprising:a plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements, each cylindrical element having a circumference extending around a longitudinal stent axis and being substantially independently expandable in the radial direction, wherein each cylindrical element is formed from struts arranged in a serpentine pattern; wherein the serpentine pattern is a repeating strut pattern of upright V's and inverted V's which are in phase with the strut pattern of upright V's and inverted V's of an adjacent cylindrical element; and wherein the strut pattern of upright V's and inverted V's of one cylindrical element nest into the upright V's and inverted V's of the adjacent cylindrical element; wherein the plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements are arranged in alignment along the longitudinal stent axis, and wherein a plurality of cylindrical elements include sequentially increasing diameters to create a tapered profile; a plurality of interconnecting members extending between the adjacent cylindrical elements and connecting the adjacent cylindrical elements to one another; and wherein the plurality of struts and interconnecting members at the tapered profile increase in length along the longitudinal stent axis.