Patent ID: 7462190

Claim:
An elongate, tubular, longitudinally extending stent matrix which defines and surrounds a longitudinal flow path, the matrix being capable of expansion during deployment in a body lumen, from a small diameter delivery configuration to a large diameter lumen wall-supporting configuration, the matrix comprising: a multiplicity of cells formed from a plurality of struts, at least two of the plurality of cell-forming struts intersecting to define a unitary vertex; at least one mounting portion extending longitudinally from the vertex; a bead fixed to the at least one mounting portion, said bead having a longitudinally extending aperture which receives the at least one mounting portion, said bead is fixed to the matrix by a mechanical engagement of co-operating surfaces, the co-operating surfaces are disposed on the at least one mounting portion and are resilient and wherein the aperture of the bead defines a female receiving portion, and the resilient co-operating surfaces are fingers having tips, the fingers lying in the closed loop and elastically deformable to bring the tips of the fingers closer together, to advance into the female receiving portion of the bead.