STENT DESIGNS FOR USE IN PERIPHERAL VESSELS

摘要

Stent designs for use in peripheral vessels, such as the carotid arteries, a re disclosed. The stents consist of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common longitudinal stent axis a nd interconnected by one or more interconnecting members placed so that the ste nt is flexible in a longitudinal direction. The cylindrical elements are generally serpentine wave pattern transverse to the longitudinal axis betwee n alternating valley portion and peak portions, the valley portion including alternating double-curved portions and U-shaped portions. The interconnectin g members are attached to the double-curved portions to connect a cylindrical element to an adjacent cylindrical element and interconnecting members are attached to the U-shaped portions to connect the cylindrical element to the other adjacent cylindrical element. The designs include an eight crown and s ix crown stent which exhibit flexibility and sufficient radial strength to support the vessel.