Patent ID: 6602284
Filing Date: 2003-08-05
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A longitudinally flexible and unexpanded stent, for implanting in a body lumen and expandable from an unexpanded condition to an expanded condition, comprising:a plurality of cylindrical elements, each cylindrical element having a circumference extending around a longitudinal stent axis, wherein the plurality of cylindrical elements are arranged along the longitudinal stent axis and have a first end section, a second end section, and a center section therebetween; each cylindrical element formed in a generally serpentine wave pattern and having generally straight portions; a plurality of interconnecting members extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal stent axis connecting the cylindrical elements together; at least one of the cylindrical elements and one of the interconnecting members being configured to form a W-shaped member and at least one of the cylindrical elements and one of the interconnecting members being configured to form a Y-shaped member; wherein at least some of the interconnecting members have lengths longer than at least some axial lengths of the cylindrical elements and at least some of the interconnecting members have lengths shorter than at least some axial lengths of the cylindrical elements; wherein the generally straight portions of a cylindrical element in at least one of the first end section and the second end section have greater length than the generally straight portions of at least one cylindrical element in the center section; and the generally straight portions in the first end section and the second end section have widths that are wider than the generally straight portions in the center section.