LONGITUDINALLY FLEXIBLE STENT

摘要

An intravascular stent (208) especially suited for implanting in curved arterial portions (210). The stent (208) retains longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The stent (208) includes a plurality of first circumferential bands containing a pattern (301) of loops (304,306) at a first frequency and a plurality of second circumferential bands containing a pattern (303) of loops (316,318) at a second frequency higher than said first frequency, alternating with said first circumferential bands and periodically coupled thereto to form cells. The first circumferential bands have wider struts than the second circumferential bands. The higher frequency elements with lower strut width provide a flexibility after expansion which can be repeatedly stressed by the beating heart without exceeding the elastic limit of the stent material.