Patent ID: 8057532

Claim:
A radially-expandable implantable medical device having a support frame moveable from a radially expanded configuration to a radially compressed configuration, the support frame in the expanded configuration defining a lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis and defining a plurality of openings in communication with the lumen, the support frame comprising: a first member pair of circumferentially adjacent members joined at a first distal point positioned at the distal end of the support frame and at a first proximal point positioned at the proximal end of the support frame, each member of the first pair having a divergent portion joined to a convergent portion at an inflection point, with the divergent portion extending circumferentially away from the proximal point and toward the inflection point and the convergent portion extending circumferentially away from the inflection point and toward the distal point, the first member pair of circumferentially adjacent members defining a first opening in the support frame; a second member pair of circumferentially adjacent members joined at a second distal point positioned at the distal end of the support frame and at a second proximal point positioned at the proximal end of the support frame, each member of the second member pair having a divergent portion joined to a convergent portion at an inflection point, with the divergent portion extending circumferentially away from the distal point and toward the inflection point and the convergent portion extending circumferentially away from the inflection point and toward the proximal point, the second member pair of circumferentially adjacent members defining a second opening in the support frame; the first member pair connected to the second member pair by a first pair of transverse connecting members and a second pair of transverse connecting members, each transverse connecting member of the first pair of transverse connecting members extending from the divergent portion of one member of the first member pair to a divergent portion of one member of the second member pair and each transverse connecting member of the second pair of transverse connecting members extending from either the divergent portion of one member of the first member pair to a convergent portion of one member of the second member pair or from the convergent portion of one member of the first member pair to a divergent portion of one member of the second member pair; the first opening being opposably positioned across the lumen with respect to the second opening.