| 摘要 |
<p>A programmable, variably flexible modular stent includes: (a) a plurality of basic circular ring units (28) made from a thin malleable material, where each basic ring unit has a recurring sequence of circumferential segments (31, 35) and circumferential/longitudinal segments (33, 37); and (b) at least one bridging link (40) that longitudinally connects a circumferential segment of each basic ring unit to a corresponding circumferential segment of an adjacent basic ring unit. The basic ring units which are connected to each other by way of the bridging link(s) thereby form a tubular-shaped stent frame (20). The tubular-shaped stent frame assumes a pre-expanded size (Fig. 3-b) having a first diameter (d1) when the circumferential/longitudinal segments (33, 37) of the basic ring units are oriented to lie predominantly in a longitudinal direction. The tubular-shaped frame assumes an expanded size (Fig. 3-A) having a second diameter (d2) when the circumferential/longitudinal segments of the basic ring units are bent to lie predominantly in a circumferential direction. Advantageously, the second diameter of the tubular-shaped frame may be two to three times greater than the first diameter. Hence, the stent frame (20), when in its pre-expanded size, may be readily inserted into a lumen, and once inserted, may be expanded to assume its expanded size, thereby providing an expanded stent frame which thereafter serves as a supporting structure, i.e., a scaffold, to hold the lumen open with an open diameter that is equal to the second diameter (d2). The rigidity, strength, density, length and flexibility of the stent may be programmably set by selective formation of modules (70, 72), of two or more rings, having prescribed characteristics as determined in large part by selected intra-connections between the rings (28), and by selective inter-connecting the modules or rings with differing patterns of bridging links.</p> |
