Patent ID: 8236043
Filing Date: 2012-08-07
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A stent for insertion in a fluid conduit of the human or animal body, comprising a hollow structure the interior of which is substantially free of grooves, ridges, ribs or vanes, the hollow structure having a centre line and having generally circumferentially extending parts which have opposite end portions in the longitudinal direction, the circumferential parts being joined to longitudinally adjacent circumferential parts along the length of the hollow structure wherein a set of struts connects adjacent circumferential parts to each other, the set of struts including first and second struts both connecting the same adjacent circumferential parts, the first strut having a portion being oriented in a first lateral direction as well as longitudinally and the second strut having a portion being oriented in a second lateral direction substantially opposite to the first lateral direction as well as longitudinally, wherein on one side of the hollow structure the set of struts has a long length and on the other diametrically opposite side of the hollow structure the set of struts has a short length, and wherein the long length of the set of struts is rotationally offset from the long length of the next longitudinally adjacent set of struts, and in use, the center line of the hollow structure follows a substantially helical path which undergoes more than one turn, whereby a flow lumen defined by the hollow structure, and imposed on the fluid conduit by the hollow structure when in the fluid conduit, extends generally helically in the longitudinal direction wherein each circumferential part has a centroid and the centroids of the circumferential parts follow the helical path.