Patent ID: 7722662

Claim:
An expandable stent, comprising: a tubular member having a circumference which is adjustable between at least a first collapsed diameter and at least a second expanded diameter, said tubular member comprising: at least two slidably engaged radial elements, wherein each radial element defines a portion of the circumference of the tubular member, and comprises a tab, a locking slot which comprises a stop therein and defines a travel path, and an entry slot configured to allow a tab to fit into and slidably engage the locking slot; and a frame element that surrounds at least one of the radial elements, the frame element interconnecting with another frame element; wherein the stop is configured to permit one-way sliding of the tab along the travel path, such that said tubular member can expand from the first collapsed diameter to the second expanded diameter with reduced recoil as the slidably engaged radial elements slide apart from one another.