Patent ID: 6344053
Filing Date: 2002-02-05
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A balloon-expandable stent comprising:a plurality of generally sinusoidally-shaped, plastically deformable rings capable of retaining a compressed configuration when mounted onto a balloon catheter and having a first diameter when mounted onto the balloon catheter; each ring comprising substantially straight segments oriented generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of its ring in its first diameter; each segment having a first end and a second end, with a first end of a first segment connected to a first end of a second segment by a first turn; a second end of the second segment connected to a second end of a third segment by a second turn; a first end of the third segment connected to a first end of a fourth segment by a third turn, and so on until a second end of an Nth segment is connected to a second end of the first segment by an Nth turn; wherein each segment is connected to another segment at its ends and at no point intermediate its ends; and wherein the rings are expandable to a second diameter larger than the first diameter.