Patent ID: 7060088
Filing Date: 2006-06-13
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A stent in the form of a generally tubular structure having a longitudinal axis, the stent comprising; a plurality of circumferential sets of strut members that extend in a generally circumferential, ring-like pattern around the stent's longitudinal axis with each circumferential set of strut members comprising a plurality of curved end struts, the curved end struts being substantially curved across their entire length; a plurality of flexible links with each flexible link being fixedly attached to two adjacent circumferential sets of strut members and each flexible link having a proximal end and a distal end with a line drawn through the proximal and distal ends of the flexible link lying transverse to the stent's longitudinal axis, each flexible link having at least four generally longitudinal extending curved segments that each have a proximal end and a distal end with a line joining the proximal end and distal end of each curved segment being generally parallel to the stent's longitudinal axis, the curved segments being connected together in series by three generally circumferentially extending segments of approximately equal length; and the stent being further characterized by having the outermost curved segment of each flexible link connected to each curved end strut at a point thereon, the tangent to the curved end segment at which point being at an acute angle with respect to the stent's longitudinal axis as taken in the direction of the curved end strut that is opposite the curved end strut onto which the outermost curved end segment is attached.