The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 07, 2000
Filed:
Feb. 17, 1998
Thomas A Steinke, San Diego, CA (US);
Stephen O Ross, Oceanside, CA (US);
MD3, Inc., San Diego, CA (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a lumen support stent for use in an artery or any body lumen. The stent is formed from a plurality of ladder elements having elongated ribs bowed to define a circumferential arc of the tubular member and end rungs affixed to the elongated ribs. The elongated ribs of adjacent ladder elements are substantially parallel to one another and slidably engaged by the end rungs of adjacent ladder elements. Sliding of the end rungs along the circumferential arc defined by the engaged ribs creates a variable circumferential distance between the end rungs of adjacent ladder elements. Consequently, the stent has a first diameter in which the circumferential distance between end rungs of adjacent ladder elements is collapsed, and a variable second diameter in which the circumferential distance between end rungs of adjacent ladder elements is expanded.