摘要 |
An intracranial stent formed from Nitinol has variable flexibility. The stent (10) is formed from a plurality of stent rings (12) connected by tie bars (14). The tie bars (14) in a central soft zone (16) are heat treated so as to confer a higher transition temperature on the Nitinol. As a result, at body temperature, the soft zone (16) has reduced longitudinal stiffness as compared to the stiffer zones (18) found at the ends of the stent (10). |