Patent ID: 8623071

Claim:
A generally tubular intravascular stent having opposing first and second ends, said intravascular stent comprising: a plurality of end loop portions at the opposing first and second ends of the stent, and an intermediate tubular body portion formed of a plurality of intermediate circumferential loops between the plurality of end loop portions, said intermediate tubular body portion having a first diameter, an enlarged first end and an enlarged opposing second end, said enlarged first and second ends having a second diameter greater than the first diameter of the intermediate tubular body portion, and said plurality of end loop portions flaring radially outward at an angle of 30° with respect to a longitudinal axis of the intermediate tubular body portion of the stent, wherein said plurality of end loop portions and said plurality of intermediate circumferential loops of said intermediate tubular body portion are formed from a single spirally wound composite wire including an elongated inner core having a selected length and formed from a radiopaque metal, an outer metal layer coaxially disposed around said elongated inner core along the length of said elongated inner core, wherein said outer metal layer is formed of a nickel-titanium alloy, and wherein said elongated inner core and said outer metal layer are made of dissimilar metals, and a continuous intermediate polymer layer disposed between said outer metal layer and said elongated inner core, said continuous intermediate polymer layer being configured to insulate said elongated inner core and said outer metal layer from galvanic corrosion and prevent current flow between said elongated inner core and said outer metal layer, and said continuous intermediate polymer layer being formed from a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly-para-xylylene, a fluorine substituted poly-para-xylylene, and combinations thereof, wherein said intravascular stent takes on a linear shape when stretched, without the ends shrinking to a diameter less than the diameter of the central body of the stent when disposed in a desired location in a patient's vasculature, said composite wire having a first free end and a second free end placed in close proximity to each other in the intermediate tubular body portion, and a short segment of heat shrink tubing capturing said first and second free ends together forming a connection of the first and second free ends of the composite wire in the intermediate tubular body portion, said connection forming a continuation of one of said plurality of intermediate circumferential loops, to thereby prevent the free ends of the composite wire from extending away from the body of the stent.