MAGNETICALLY EXPANDABLE MEDICAL DEVICE

摘要

An implantable medical device (10) includes a body member (12), which may be a graft tube, is provided with a plurality of magnetic elements (20) disposed in opposing sets (22-28) and arranged with opposing magnetic polarities. The magnetic elements (22) create repulsive forces which open the implantable medical device (10), providing an alternative to a conventional implantable medical device which is kept open by mechanical forces.