Patent ID: 8012197
Filing Date: 2011-09-06
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A stent having a longitudinal axis, the stent comprising: a non-woven tubular element having a plurality of openings therein, the tubular element comprising a plurality of interconnected struts which form at least one continuous pathway which extends all the way around the longitudinal axis, the interconnected struts having an outside surface facing outside the stent, an inner surface facing the longitudinal axis, and a side portion therebetween, the side portion having a thickness defined by the radial distance between the outer surface and the inner surface, wherein at least one of the interconnected struts is a frangible temporary strut, the frangible temporary strut configured to restrain at least two of the interconnected struts from self-expansion, and wherein at least a portion of the stent is constructed and arranged to self-expand upon breaking of the at least one frangible temporary strut, the thickness of a portion of the frangible temporary strut being substantially narrower than the thickness of any other portion of the frangible temporary strut.