STENT WITH OPTIMAL STRENGTH AND RADIO-OPACITY CHARACTERISTICS

摘要

The present invention is a stent that is designed to have optimal strength and radio-opacity with good biocompatibility. To achieve optimal radio-opacity, the stent design of the present invention is adjusted to the specific radio-opacity and strength characteristics of the metal from which the stent is fabricated. What is more, coatings such as parylene may be needed to avoid corrosion from stents with less biocompatible materials and/or dissimilar metal on the stent's outer surface. The achievement of optimal radio-opacity occurs in a stent that ideally is only 0.004 inches wall thickness or less. Such a stent would have a pre-deployment outer diameter (profile) that would be at least 0.003 inches less than currently marketed stents. Ideally, the sten described herein would have a wall thickness between 0.0025 inches and 0.004 inches.