Patent ID: 7799068

Claim:
An expandable stent for insertion into a passage, said expandable stent comprising: a body having a longitudinal axis and formed of at least one flexible sheet material comprising a woven fabric, said body being convertible from a collapsed condition in which the body is of a size to be inserted into the passage into an expanded condition in which the body is fixed relative to the passage; a first channel disposed circumferentially and transversely about the body and extending over at least a region of the body, wherein the first channel is located at a first end of the body; a second channel disposed circumferentially and transversely about the body and extending over at least a region of the body, wherein the second channel is located at a second end of the body; a plurality of spaced apart channels disposed transversely about the body and extending over at least a region of the body, said plurality of channels in communication with one another, the spaced apart channels located between the first channel and the second channel; a main channel extending axially between the first channel and the second channel, wherein the main channel is in communication with the first channel, the second channel, and the plurality of spaced apart channels, wherein the first channel, the second channel, and the plurality of spaced apart channels extend transversely from said main channel; and an inlet communicating with the first channel, wherein to enable a hardening material is introduced through the inlet and into at least the first channel so that at least said region of said body can be hardened with the hardening material to maintain the body in its expanded condition.