Importance

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Abstract

This invention is a stent having a substantially tubular body defining a longitudinal axis comprising first and second adjacent annular segments, each segment defining a substantially sinusoidal shape having a plurality of peaks and valleys, the peaks of the first segment extending toward the second segment and being aligned longitudinally with the valleys of the second segment. The stent has a plurality of bridge elements having a U-shaped portion between first and second connector arms, the first connector arm of one bridge element being connected between a first peak and a first valley of the first segment and the second connector arm being connected between a first peak and a first valley of the second segment in a manner such that the U-shaped portion extends in the direction of the first peak of the first segment and the first valley of the second segment. The bridge elements may be connected to the segments at points spaced 360.degree. apart along the sinusoidal shape of the segments. The segments and bridge elements are configured such that when compression, flexure, and torsion forces are applied to the stent they generate first maximum stress regions, second maximum stress regions and third maximum stress regions which do not overlap.

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First Claim