Importance

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Abstract

A non-deformable, self-expanding stent device, and deployment catheter therefore. The stent device comprises an elongate wire member having a multiplicity of back and forth bends formed therein to define a series of side-by-side straight segments, the ends of said wire being coupled to one another such that said straight segments are disposed in a cylindrical array about a longitudinal axis. The stent is initially disposed in an operative configuration whereby the stent has a first internal diameter, and wherein the straight segments are generally parallel to one another. The stent is foldable or compressible to a contract configuration wherein the stent has an outer diameter or outer cross sectional dimension which is smaller than the first inner diameter of the operatively configured stent. The stent is formed of resilient material such that the stent is biased to, and will automatically self-expand to, its operative configuration. The preferred deployment catheter comprises an elongate catheter body having a balloon mounted thereon. The stent is positioned on the deflated balloon and folded or compacted to its compact configuration. One or more breakable retainer sheaths are positioned about the stent to hold the stent in its compact configuration on the balloon. The stent-bearing balloon catheter is advanceable into an anatomical passageway. Thereafter, the balloon is inflated to cause the breakable sheaths to tear, thereby releasing the stent and allowing the stent to undergo in situ self-expansion to its operative configuration within the anatomical passageway.

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First Claim