ENDOPROSTHESIS HAVING A STABLE ARCHITECTURE AND FLEXIBLE CONNECTORS

摘要

The present invention relates to an endoprosthesis (10) that is expandable from a contracted configuration to an expanded configuration and that includes a plurality of longitudinally adjacent web rings (26, 30). Each of the web rings is defined by web elements (38) disposed circumferentially around a longitudinal axis, which are adjoined one to the other at junction bends. A first junction bend (24) in a first web ring (26) is coupled to a second junction bend (28) in a second web ring (30) by a connector (14) which includes three or more struts (16) of essentially equal length that extend circumferentially in essentially parallel directions. The struts of the connector are adjoined in sequence by coupling segments (18) that, in one embodiment of the invention, are arcuate in shape. In another configuration, the connector is a flexible connector that is structured to absorb at least some of the axial and torsional stresses applied to the endoprosthesis.