A stent for implantation in, for example, a blood vessel, has a liner attached to a wire framework by joining elements such as plastic rivets

摘要

A stent comprises a wire framework (16, 26) with a tubular liner (28) attached by wire-shaped joining elements (30), e.g. rivets, that go through the liner and holes (36) in the framework. The holes (36) are located in a thickened part of the wire and arranged in spiral fashion. The rivet material can be melted or softened by heat, is visible under X-rays and can contain medication that is released into the body. An Independent claim is also included for making a stent by attaching a liner (28) to a collapsible wire framework (16, 26) by passing joining elements (30) through holes (36). The join can be purely mechanical by using a rivet shape or can also incorporate bonding.