Patent ID: 8303644
Filing Date: 2012-11-06
Classification: A61F,A61L,B26D,B29C,B29L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An endoprosthesis comprising: a tubular network of struts cut from a radially expanded PLLA polymer tube, the tubular network comprising W-shaped closed cells, each W-shaped closed cell abutting six other W-shaped closed cells, each W-shaped closed cell comprising linear ring struts, linear link struts, U-shaped hinge elements, and Y-shaped hinge elements, the linear ring struts forming a plurality of ring structures, each ring structure connected to another one of the ring structures by at least one linear link strut, each U-shaped hinge element connecting exactly two linear ring struts to each other, the U-shaped hinge element being tangent to the two linear ring struts, each Y-shaped hinge element connecting a linear link strut to exactly two linear ring struts, wherein the tubular network has an outer diameter of about 3.5 mm and is configured to be crimped to an outer diameter of about 1.3 mm and expanded to an outer diameter of about 3.8 mm without substantial damage to the U-shaped hinge elements, and wherein when the tubular network is at about 3.5 mm in outer diameter, each of the linear ring struts are at a selected angle relative to a linear link strut, the selected angle being from about 40 degrees to about 50 degrees.