EXPANDABLE STENT

摘要

The present invention relates to an expandable stent which does not contract in an axial direction during expansion. The expandable stent has an axial direction, a circumferential direction, and a radial direction. Also, the expandable stent has a cylindrical shape before and after the expandable stent is expanded in the radial direction. The expandable stent includes a plurality of rings, a plurality of first flexible links, and a plurality of second flexible links. The rings are arranged in the axial and circumferential directions. The first flexible links may connect together two rings that are adjacent along the circumferential direction in the links, and may be expandable in the circumferential direction. The second flexible links may connect together two rings that are adjacent along the axial direction in the links, and may be expandable in the axial direction. According to the present invention, since the contraction of the expandable stent in the axial direction during the expansion is minimized by the rings, the stent may be accurately disposed at a position such as in a lumen.