Patent ID: 8556959
Filing Date: 2013-10-15
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A stent possessing a longitudinal axis and comprising: a plurality of wavy annular members arranged axially adjacent one another along an axial extent of the stent to form a tubular-shaped stent; the stent being expandable from a first state of a first size permitting the stent to be positioned in a lumen of a living body to an expanded second state of a second size larger than the first size upon application of a radially outwardly directed expansion force from inside the stent; the wavy annular members comprising a first wavy annular member, a second wavy annular member axially adjacent the first wavy annular member without any other wavy annular member positioned between the first and second wavy annual members, and a third wavy annular member axially adjacent the second wavy annular member without any other wavy annular member positioned between the second and third wavy annual members; the first, second and third wavy annular members each comprising: a plurality of straight line portions positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent when the stent is in both the first state and the expanded second state; a plurality of additional portions angled with respect to one another; and the plurality of straight line portions and the plurality of additional portions being interconnected so that each of the first, second and third wavy annular members is a continuous wavy annular member; a first connection portion connecting a first of the straight line portions of the first wavy annular member to a first of the straight line portions of the second wavy annular member, a second connection portion connecting a second of the straight line portions of the first wavy annular member to a second of the straight line portions of the second wavy annular member, a third connection portion connecting a third of the straight line portions of the second wavy annular member to a first of the straight line portions of the third wavy annular member, and a fourth connection portion connecting a fourth of the straight line portions of the second wavy annular member to a second of the straight line portions of the third wavy annular member; the first connection portion, the first straight line portion of the first wavy annular member and the first straight line portion of the second wavy annular member extending along a common straight line; the second connection portion, the second straight line portion of the first wavy annular member and the second straight line portion of the second wavy annular member extending along a common straight line; the third connection portion, the third straight line portion of the second wavy annular member and the first straight line portion of the third wavy annular member extending along a common straight line; the fourth connection portion, the fourth straight line portion of the second wavy annular member and the second straight line portion of the third wavy annular member extending along a common straight line; the first and second connection portions being circumferentially offset from one another, the third and fourth connection portions being circumferentially offset from one another; and the third and fourth connection portions not being aligned with the first and second connection portions in the axial direction of the stent.