Patent ID: 6264688
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
Radially expandable support structure for keeping open a lumen within a body, comprising a tube-shaped body having at least two partial structures, the tube-shaped body having a wall surface that extends between a first and a second end, which has several cut-out areas, which are essentially oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tube-shaped body,at least one of the at least two partial structures extending without interruption in an axial direction generally from the first end to the second end of the tube-shaped body, the at least two partial structures including a first partial structure (1, 2) which is expandable at least in a radial direction and has at least one radial-expansion component, whereby individual radial expansion components (12, 13) are arranged as rings, and a second partial structure (11) which is almost rigid in the axial direction,wherein the at least two partial structures (1, 2; 11) are arranged such that during radial expansion of the tube-shaped body, the second partial structure (11) receives longitudinal axial forces that arise.