Patent ID: 6443982
Filing Date: 2002-09-03
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
An expandable stent for supporting a vessel, wherein in the expanded and deployed state, the stent consists of:(a) first meander patterns having loops, the first meander patterns being longitudinally spaced from each other and having axes extending in a first direction; and (b) second meander patterns having loops, the second meander patterns having axes extending in a second direction, different than the first direction, (c) wherein the first and second meander patterns are interconnected to form a tubular structure; (d) wherein the first meander patterns are connected to the second meander patterns so as to leave at least one loop of each of the second meander patterns in the space between each pair of adjacent first meander patterns; and (e) wherein the second meander patterns are connected to the first meander patterns so as to leave no more than two loops of each of the first meander patterns between each pair of adjacent second meander patterns.