Patent ID: 6165210
Filing Date: 2000-12-26
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A method for introducing a stent to a desired site in a body lumen comprising the steps of:providing a generally tubular stent which is self-expandable from a collapsed state toward an uncollapsed state and which includes a member arranged in a helical configuration with multiple helical turns coupled with a flexible link and having multiple undulations, each having an unconfined apex;introducing said self-expanding stent to a selected site in a body lumen with said stent in said collapsed state; andreleasing the collapsed self-expanding stent at the selected site so as to allow the collapsed stent to expand toward said uncollapsed state with undulations in adjacent turns being maintained generally in phase with one another with said flexible link and allowing said flexible link to move between any location within a substantial portion of a respective undulation and its corresponding apex in an unconfined manner.