Patent ID: 6059822
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
An expandable reinforcing member, comprising:two large cylindrical mesh portions located at two longitudinal end areas of the reinforcing member, each of the large mesh portions being collapsible to taper laterally outwardly of the reinforcing member and being formed of circularly arranged radially aligned first joint members and circularly arranged radially aligned first elongated members connected to the first joint members, anda small cylindrical mesh portion situated between the two large mesh portions and integrally connected to the two larger mesh portions as one unit in a plurality of radially aligned rows, said smaller mesh portion being formed of plural radially aligned rows of circularly arranged second joint members and plural radially aligned rows of circularly arranged second elongated members, each row of said second elongated members having a number of second elongated members larger than that of the first elongated members of each of the large mesh portions, some of said first elongated members being at least longer than each of said second elongated members.