Patent ID: 6042606
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: A61F,C22F

Abstract:
A radially expandable non-axially contracting surgical stent comprising:a generally cylindrical contour;a plurality of circumferential segments and axial segments of a shape memory nickel-titanium alloy;at least two of said circumferential segments each extending in a substantially circumferential direction around said cylindrical contour of said stent;said at least two circumferential segments each including a series of wave-like bends therein, each said bend including a trough and a crest, said trough defining a portion of said bend where said bend is more distant from an adjacent circumferential segment than other portions of said bend, said crest defining a portion of said bend where said bend is closer to an adjacent circumferential segment than other portions of said bend;said at least two circumferential segments oriented adjacent each other with a first gap located between said at least two circumferential segments;said first gap having at least one axial segment scanning said first gap and linking said at least two circumferential segments together, said axial segment linking said at least two circumferential segments at locations on said at least two circumferential segments in which troughs thereof are longitudinally aligned;wherein said circumferential segments include a plurality of substantially linear legs extending between each bend in said circumferential segments, and at least one of said legs exhibits a variable thickness with a lesser thickness near a middle of said leg and a greater thickness at ends of said leg.