Patent ID: 6565597
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A stent capable of assuming both an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration, the stent comprising:a first end and a second end; a plurality of bends comprising an apex interconnecting a first and a second strut, the apices of the plurality of bends located about at least one of the first end and the second end of the expandable stent; wherein the apices about the at least one of the first end and the second end are deformed into a fan blade-like arrangement when the stent is in the compressed condition and being viewed from the at least one of the first end and the second end, whereby each of the apices of the at least one of the first end and the second end are oriented at an angle with respect to the outer circumference of the stent, the angle being substantially the same for each of the apices of the at least one of the first end and the second end; and wherein the apices of the fan blade-like arrangement are such that the first strut of each of the plurality of bends overlaps the second strut of the adjacent one of the plurality of bends.