Patent IL-135382-A (IL)
Title: Flexible expandable stent
IPC: A61M29/02
Filed: 1995-07-18
Abstract: An expandable stent defining a longitudinal aperture, including: a plurality of flexible connected cells, each of said flexible cells comprising: (a) a first member having a longitudinal component having a first end and second end; (b) a second member having a longitudinal component having a first end and second end; (c) a third member (15) having a longitudinal component having a first end and second end; (d) a fourth member having a longitudinal component having a first end and second end; 1906 ז' באב התשס" ד - July 25, 2004 (e) a first loop (14) defining a first angle disposed between said first end of said first member and said first end of said second member; (f) a second loop (16) defining a second angle disposed between said second end of said third member and said second end of said fourth member, and disposed generally opposite to said first loop; (g) a first flexible compensating member or flexible link having a first end and a second end disposed between said first member and said third member, said first end of said first flexible compensating member of flexible link communicating with said second end of said first member and said second end of said first flexible compensating member of flexible link communicating with said first end of said third member, said first and said second ends disposed a variable longitudinal distance from each other; (h) a second flexible compensating member or flexible link having a first end and a second end disposed between said second member and said fourth member, said first end of said second flexible compensating member or flexible link communicating with said second end of said second member and said second end of said second flexible compensating member or flexible link communicating with said first end of said fourth member, said first and said second ends disposed a variable longitudinal distance from each other, said first and said second flexible compensating member or flexible links differentially extendible or compressible when said stent is bent in a curved direction away from the longitudinal axis of said aperture; and (i) said first, said second, said third, and said fourth members and said first and said second loops, and said first and said second flexible compensating member or flexible links disposed so that as said stent is expanded the distance between said first and said second flexible compensating member or flexible links increases and the longitudinal component of said first, second, third and fourth members decreases while said first and said second loops remain generally opposite to one another, the ends of said first and said second flexible compensating member or flexible links open so as to increase said variable longitudinal distance between said first and said second ends of said first flexible compensating member or flexible link so as to increase said variable longitudinal distance between said first and said second ends of said second flexible compensating member or flexible link so as to compensate for the decreasing of the longitudinal component of said first, second, third and fourth members and substantially lessen the foreshortening of said stent upon its expansion. 1907 ז' באב התשס" ד - July 25, 2004