Patent ID: 6309414
Filing Date: 2001-10-30
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A stent for supporting the wall of a vessel comprising a tubular body having at least two annular segments interconnected by a plurality of connectors, the tubular body having a wall including an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface defining a wall thickness therebetween, the tubular body further having a plurality of openings between the inner wall surface and the outer wall surface, the tubular body being expandable from a radially contracted condition to a radially expanded condition, at least one annular segment being configured such that a first portion of the at least one annular segment has a first outer wall surface width and a second portion of the at least one annular segment has a second outer wall surface width, the first outer wall surface width being greater than the second outer wall surface width such that the outer wall surface of the first portion of the at least one annular segment is configured to provide greater support to the wall of the vessel than the outer wall surface of the second portion of the at least one annular segment.