Patent ID: 6974475

Claim:
A prosthesis for use in maintaining an opening within a vessel, said prosthesis comprising a sleeve having a wall, said wall defining a discontinuity longitudinally thereof providing a first edge and a second edge of said wall, said first edge being selectively receivable within said sleeve for allowing said sleeve selectively to assume a first position wherein said first edge of said wall moves inwardly for providing a collapsed diameter of said sleeve, and a second position wherein said wall moves outwardly for providing an expanded diameter of said sleeve, means for urging said wall in one direction towards either said collapsed diameter or said expanded diameter, and locking means for preventing motion of said wall by said means for urging said wall in one direction, said means for urging said wall in one direction including memory of said wall, said one direction being inwardly towards said collapsed diameter, said locking means comprising a first hook means carried by said first edge of said wall, and a second hook means carried by said second edge of said wall, said first and second hook means being engageable with each other for fixing the diameter of said sleeve.