Importance

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Abstract

An intraluminal stent is constructed to provide improved hoop strength over conventional stents. The stent includes a plurality of elongated members extending in a circumferential direction around an axis and curving in two opposite directions transverse to the circumferential direction. Each of the elongated members is curved over substantially its entire extent, preferably so that the curved portions define an arc of a circle. The elongated members are joined to one another at cusps pointing in opposite axial directions. The cusps are movable in opposite axial directions between an expanded condition in which the opposed cusps are relatively close to one another and the elongated members define an expanded circumference, and a collapsed condition in which the opposed cusps are relatively distant to one another and the elongated members define a collapsed circumference which is smaller than the expanded circumference. The stent may be formed as a single loop or as a plurality of loops extending in an axial direction.

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First Claim