EXPANDABLE FRAMEWORK WITH OVERLAPPING CONNECTORS

摘要

A stent may comprise a plurality of serpentine bands (14) and connectors (30a,b). A first connector may overlap a second connector when the stent is unexpanded. The first connector may also overlap the second connector in an unexpanded state when the stent is subject to compressive forces in a local area of the connectors, such as when the connectors are located on the inside of a curve. The second connetor may be shaped according to a rotation of the first connector about the centroid of the cell between the first connector and the second connector.