POLYMER STENT WITH TUNABLE AXIAL AND RADIAL FLEXIBILITY

摘要

Stents are provided which include geometric segments comprising radial elements and axial elements. Both the radial and axial elements are optionally characterized by a width and a thickness, and the widths and thicknesses of the radial and axial elements are capable of being fixed independently of one another, permitting the axial and radial flexibility of the stent to be controlled independently of one another.

主权项

1. A biliary stent, comprising:
a plurality of helical segments and at least one non-helical segment interposed between adjacent helical segments or disposed at an end of the biliary stent, wherein the biliary stent comprises a shape memory polymer and is moveable from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration in which at least one of a diameter of the biliary stent and a length of the biliary stent is increased relative to the compressed configuration.