Radially expansible and articulated vessel scaffold

Claim 1

A radially expansible lumenal prosthesis comprising: a plurality of radially expansible body segments, wherein the expansible body segments each comprise a plurality of box elements which expand into arcuate, diamond-shaped elements as the body segment is expanded and wherein circumferentially adjacent box elements are joined to each other near their longitudinal centers by circumferentially oriented tabs, and wherein said beam members are joined to tabs which are offset from each other by 90°; and a universal articulation structure between each pair of consecutive body segments, wherein said articulation structure consists of (a) a radially expansible serpentine ring, wherein the serpentine ring of the universal articulation structure is configured so that the ends of the beam member pairs which are attached to the serpentine ring longitudinally overlap when said ring is radially constricted and move axially apart as the ring is radially expanded and (b) two pairs of beam members, wherein said beam member pairs are rotationally offset by 90° and wherein beam member pairs are disposed longitudinally on each side of the ring and each beam member pair is attached to one of said consecutive body segments.