STENT DEVICE WITH MULTIPLE HELIX CONSTRUCTION

摘要

An improved stent design (20) is disclosed that employs a series of helically oriented expansion elements (22a, 22b, 22c) encircling the stent. Each of the expansion elements includes a stepped pattern employing two distinct pitch angles (30, 36). The expansion elements are oriented to cooperate with each other to form a series of virtual radially expandable rings (40) that provide suitable outward force for proper stent function, but which are not connected together to form a continuous coherent ring if separated from the stent as a whole. In this manner, a distinctive stent design is provided that has numerous functional benefits over stents described in the prior art.