Patent ID: 6706061
Filing Date: 2004-03-16
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A half open, half closed hybrid cell stent in the form of a thin-walled, multi-cellular, tubular structure having a multiplicity of circumferential sets of strut members, each set of strut members being longitudinally separated each from the other, each set of strut members being connected to adjacent sets of strut members by longitudinal connecting links having at least one curved strut therein and each set of strut members forming a closed, ring-like cylindrical portion of the stent, each set of strut members consisting of a multiplicity of connected curved sections and diagonal sections, each curved section having two ends and a center situated there between, at least one set of strut members having at least half of the curved sections within the set of strut members having a tapered shape wherein the width at the center of a curved section with a tapered shape is greater than the width at the ends of a curved section with tapered shape, and no greater than half of the curved sections of each set of strut members connected to the longitudinal connecting links, andwherein said longitudinal connecting links comprise further comprising a multiplicity of sets of flexible links with each set of flexible links connecting two of the multiplicity of sets of strut members, each set of flexible links consisting of a multiplicity of individual flexible links, each individual flexible link being a single undulating structure that extends generally in the longitudinal direction that is parallel to the stent's longitudinal axis and each individual flexible link having two ends, each one of the two ends being fixedly attached to one curved section of the multiplicity of sets of strut elements at an attachment point situated between the center and the end of that curved section.