Patent ID: 6818014
Filing Date: 2004-11-16
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A stent having a longitudinal axis,the stent comprising a plurality of closed undulating segments, the undulating segments extending circumferentially about the stent, each undulating segment having a first end and a second end, the first end characterized by a plurality of end portions separated by gaps, the second end characterized by a plurality of end portions separated by gaps, the gaps on the first end circumferentially offset from the gaps on the second end and the end portions on the first end circumferentially offset from the end portions on the second end, an undulating segment at a first end of the stent having a plurality of interconnecting elements extending from one end of the first end segment only to a segment adjacent thereto and an undulating segment at a second end of the stent having a plurality of interconnecting elements extending from one end of the second end undulating segment only to an undulating segment adjacent thereto, a plurality of undulating segments which are located between the segments at the first and second ends of the stent having interconnecting elements extending from both ends of the segments, each interconnecting element extending from an end portion of a segment to an end portion of an undulating segment adjacent thereto, each interconnecting element having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being offset in both a circumferential direction and a longitudinal direction from the proximal end, the interconnecting elements oriented diagonally to the longitudinal axis of the stent, the stent including interconnecting elements which are circumferentially adjacent one another, which are substantially parallel to one another and which are separated from one another by two end portions of a second end of an undulating segment from which the interconnecting elements extend and two end portions of a first end of an adjacent undulating segment from which the interconnecting elements extend.