Importance

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Abstract

A radially expandible intra vascular stent 20 is provided with improved radially expandible strength due to increased amounts of metal surface area while flexibility is increased due to the unique stent wall surface pattern. In the un-expanded form, the stent wall surface pattern 58 resembles a series of linked S-shapes 22 formed radially about the tube with interconnections 21 between the radial rows of S's 22 with alternating adjacent S's. Longitudinally, the un-expanded stent resembles longitudinal rows of pattern series of an S 24, S 24, reverse S 26, reverse S 26 shapes. This series repeats itself along the longitudinal surface of the stent. The longitudinal pattern is interconnected by the radial S's 21. When expanded for implantation within a lumen wall, the stent 20 unfolds to wall surface pattern 60 having linked parallelograms 52 along its longitudinal axis 40 while radially having alternating connected and disjoined struts forming a pattern similar to a butterfly shape 56, along its radial axis 50. The stent 20 can be non-uniform when expanded to accommodate the unique size and shape of the lumen into which it is implanted. The narrow outside diameter of the un-expanded stent eliminates the usual preliminary lumen expansion step. A multi-layer stent 70 is also provided. A method of implantation and a method of manufacture are also provided.

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First Claim