Self expanding flexible stent comprising a helical strut member and multiple helical elements

摘要

A self expanding flexible stent 10 comprises a helical strut member 12 helically wound about an axis of the stent 10, the helical strut member 12 comprising several helical strut elements 12, and several helical elements 16 helically wound about the axis of the stent 10 in the same direction of the helical strut member 12 with the helical elements 16 extending between and interconnecting points on subsequent windings of the helical strut member 12 , where the helical elements 16 are elongated elements 16 both in the compressed state and deployed state. The distance between at least some adjacent helical elements 16 in the compressed state varies along the length of the adjacent helical elements 16 and is in a range from zero and about the maximum distance between adjacent helical elements 16 in the deployed state. The stent 10 in the compressed state is longer than in the deployed state, and in the deployed state the elongated elements 16 are substantially parallel and the helical strut member 12 and the helical strut elements 16 define a cylinder having a constant diameter.