Patent ID: 8545547

Claim:
An expandable slide and lock stent, the stent comprising a body having a generally tubular shape with a central lumen, the body defining a longitudinal axis extending longitudinally along the body, the body comprising: at least first and second elongate backbones, each backbone comprising a plurality of slots extending through the backbone, each backbone extending in a generally helical path about the axis along at least a portion of the backbone, each of the at least first and second backbones being circumferentially offset from each adjacent backbone; a plurality of first elongate members defining proximal and distal ends, the proximal ends of the plurality of first elongate members being coupled to the first backbone with the elongate members extending in a circumferential direction from the first backbone to slidably engage and extend through a corresponding set of slots of the second helical backbone, the first elongate members being axially offset from each other; a first cross-member coupling the distal ends of the first plurality of elongate members; a plurality of second elongate members defining proximal and distal ends, the proximal ends of the plurality of second elongate members being coupled to the second backbone and extending in a circumferential direction from the second backbone to slidably engage and extend through slots of an adjacent helical backbone, the second elongate members being axially offset from each other and from each of the first elongate members; and a second cross-member coupling the distal ends of the second plurality of elongate members; wherein the at least first and second helical backbones and the at least first and second plurality of elongate members interconnecting to collectively define the generally tubular body, the body being radially expandable and/or contractible upon sliding of the elongate members in the engaged slots, the radial expansion and or contraction of the body having a range of radial motion between a collapsed tube diameter and an expanded tube diameter, and wherein the body further comprises a locking mechanism configured to prevent radial contraction over at least a portion of the range of radial motion of the body.