Patent ID: 9101503
Filing Date: 2015-08-11
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A tubular prosthesis comprising: a plurality of tubular rings radially expandable from a contracted configuration to an expanded configuration, each ring comprising a plurality of axially oriented struts interconnected so as to form a plurality of high peaks and a plurality of low peaks, the plurality of high peaks and the plurality of low peaks being circumferentially arranged to form an alternating series of at least one high peak and at least one low peak, the high and low peaks having apices oriented in the same axial direction, the apices of the high peaks being axially offset from the apices of the low peaks, the apices of the high peaks being axially aligned with one another, the apices of low peaks being axially aligned with one another; and at least one non-linear bridge member coupling each pair of adjacent tubular rings together, the at least one non-linear bridge member having a first end connected to a first low peak in a first tubular ring of a respective pair of adjacent tubular rings and a second end connected to a second low peak in a second tubular ring of the respective pair of adjacent tubular rings, and a non-linear intermediate portion extending between the first and second ends, wherein the non-linear intermediate portion includes a transverse portion extending in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tubular prosthesis when the prosthesis is in the contracted configuration, wherein the apices of the high and low peaks in the first tubular ring are circumferentially offset from the apices of the high and low peaks in the second tubular ring such that the first low peak in the first tubular ring is circumferentially offset from the second low peak in the second tubular ring, and wherein each and every bridge member of the prosthesis extends circumferentially between adjacent unconnected high peaks of the first and second adjacent tubular rings of the respective pair of adjacent tubular rings connected by the respective bridge member and extends a length greater than a circumferential distance between the respective adjacent unconnected high peaks of the respective pair of adjacent tubular rings such that the respective bridge member inhibits contact between and overlapping of the adjacent unconnected high peaks of the respective adjacent tubular rings during flexure of the tubular prosthesis in the contracted configuration, wherein the non-linear bridge member includes a portion, between the first end and the second end, having a reduced thickness by curving inward on only one side to facilitate flexibility between the first and second tubular rings coupled with the non-linear bridge member.