Connected stent apparatus

摘要

An endoprosthetic device comprises at least two short stent segments welded together to form a connected stent. Each stent segment defines a single wire having straight sections integrally formed between axial turns. The welds are placed between stent segments at one or more aligned adjacent axial turns. The welded connected stent is flexible enough to allow it to pass through sharp turns and to be implanted to conform to the contour of the lesion to be treated. In one aspect of the invention all adjacent axial turns are welded together. In another aspect of the invention, selected adjacent axial turns are welded together to create a generally balanced spiral pattern of welds surrounding the cylindrical connected stent.