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:
Feb. 20, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 02, 1999
Nitinal Development Corporation, Fremont, CA (US);
Abstract
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a stent, preferably a self-expanding Nitinol stent, for insertion into a vessel of a patient. The stent is made from a tubular member a thickness, front and back open ends, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The member has a first smaller diameter for insertion into a vessel, and a second larger diameter for deployment into a vessel. The tubular member has a plurality of adjacent hoops extending between its front and back ends. The hoops are formed of a plurality of longitudinal struts, each having opposing ends and a center therebetween. The ends of the struts are shaped to form a plurality of loops which connect adjacent struts at the ends of the struts. The member further includes a plurality of bridges connecting adjacent hoops to one another. Each of the struts has a width which is greater at its ends than at its center. Preferably, the width continuously tapers from a greater width at the ends to a smaller width at the centers.