Importance

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Abstract

An expandable stent for deployment into a vessel having a lumen therein comprising a cylindrical member having a length and having proximal and distal extremities and being formed of a metal having a wall defining a central bore having a longitudinal axis extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity. The cylindrical member has an inside diameter and an outside diameter. The cylindrical member is formed of at least one cylindrical segment. The at least one cylindrical segment has a pattern formed therein which when the stent is expanded is capable of forming a truss formed of serially connected three-sided triangularly-shaped truss members. The pattern includes a first sinusoid extending circumferentially through 360.degree. about the longitudinal axis. The first sinusoid is in the form of a plurality of major elements having first and second interconnected struts having respectively first and second lengths forming first and second sides of the truss members and defining open sides therebetween. Alternate major elements have open sides facing in opposite directions. The pattern also includes a plurality of foldable struts disposed within the open sides of the major elements and secured to the first and second struts of the major elements so that when the stent is expanded, the foldable struts are capable of unfolding to form the third sides of the truss members. The truss members are serially connected to form a continuous truss extending circumferentially of the cylindrical member to provide a stent which when expanded has high radial strength.

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First Claim