Patent ID: 6117165
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
An expandable intraluminal endoprosthesis comprising a tubular member having a first and second end and a wall surface disposed between said first and second end, the wall having a substantially uniform thickness and having a first diameter in a first, unexpanded state which permits intraluminal delivery of the member into a lumen of a body passageway, particularly a blood vessel, which member is capable of acquiring a second diameter in an expanded and deformed state upon the application from the interior of the tubular member of a radially outwardly extending force, which second diameter is variable and dependent on the amount of said force applied to the tubular member, whereby the tubular member may be expanded and deformed to expand the lumen of the body passageway, wherein at least in said first unexpanded state at least a part of said wall of said tubular member comprises a substantially continuous structure of mutually staggered undulations having peaks and valleys, wherein said substantially continuous structure comprises at least one pattern which advances substantially helically along a longitudinal axis of said tubular member and in that said structure comprises connection elements connecting one set of undulations to another set of adjacent undulations at said peaks and valleys, which connection elements are an integral extension of the undulations which they connected.