STENTS WITH ATTACHED LOOPED ENDS

摘要

An open frame prosthesis (16) is formed with looped end terminations (34, 36, 38) at its proximal and distal ends. At one end of the prosthesis, the filaments or strands are welded together in pairs to form strand couplings (46). A plurality of loop segments are connected to the strand couplings, one loop segment for each pair of adjacent strand couplings. In one version of the prosthesis, strands at the opposite end are bent to form looped ends (33). In another version, loop segments are connected to pairs of strand couplings at both ends of the prosthesis. The loop segments can be connected to the couplings by welding, fusion bonds, or tubes, which are either crimped or heat shrunk.