Non-foreshortening intraluminal prosthesis

摘要

An intraluminal prosthesis is provided with a plurality of annular elements. Each annular element includes a plurality of struts and apices connected to form an annular configuration. Each annular element has a compressed state and an expanded state, and has a longitudinal dimension which is smaller in the expanded state than in the compressed state. A plurality of connecting members connect the apices of adjacent annular elements. The connecting members have a plurality of alternating segments that function to compensate for the smaller longitudinal dimension of each annular element in the expanded state. The stent may be provided with varying flexibility along its length and/or circumference, and may include segments that have different diameters.

主权项

1. A stent having a cylindrical body and a length, and comprising:
a plurality of rows of annular elements, each row of annular elements including a plurality of substantially V-shaped struts defined by alternating first and second struts connected at an apex, and a plurality of rows of connectors, each row of connectors having at least one connector joining at least one apex of a first annular element to an apex of an adjacent annular element, the at least one connector extending longitudinally along the length of the stent; wherein the rows of annular elements and rows of connectors are arranged in alternating manner along the length of the body, with each row of annular elements and each row of connectors extending circumferentially around the cylindrical body; and wherein selected struts are omitted to define a first spiral pattern along a length of the stent in a manner where a strut is omitted in every other row of annular elements, and selected connectors are omitted to define a second spiral pattern along the length of the stent in a manner where a connector is omitted in every other row of connectors, with the first and second spiral patterns extending in opposite directions.