Stent fabrication method

Claim 1

An expandable stent having a longitudinal lumen having a longitudinal axis comprising: a) a stent pattern comprising a plurality of flexible connected cells, each of said flexible cells comprising: a) a first member having a longitudinal component having a first end and a second end; b) a second member having a longitudinal component having a first end and a second end; c) a third member having a longitudinal component having a first end and a second end; d) a fourth member having a longitudinal component having a first end and a second end; e) a first loop defining a first angle disposed between said first end of said first member and said first end of said second member; f) a second loop defining a second angle disposed between said second end of said third member and said second end of said fourth member, and disposed generally opposite to said first loop; g) a first flexible compensating member or flexible link having a first end a second end disposed between said first member and said third member, said first end of said first flexible compensating member or flexible link communicating with said second end of said first member and said second end of said first flexible compensating member or flexible link communicating with said first end of said third member, said first and said second ends of said first flexible compensating member or flexible link disposed a variable longitudinal distance from each other; h) a second flexible compensating member or flexible link having a first end and a second end disposed between said second member and said fourth member, said first end of said second flexible compensating member or flexible link communicating with said second end of said second member and said second end of said second flexible compensating member or flexible link communicating with said first end of said fourth member, said first and said second ends of said second flexible compensating member or flexible link disposed a variable longitudinal distance from each other, said first and said second flexible compensating members or flexible links differentially extendable or compressible when said stent is bent in a curved direction away from the longitudinal axis of said longitudinal lumen; and i) said first, said second, said third, and said fourth members and said first and said second loops, and said first and said second flexible compensating members or flexible links disposed so that as said stent is expanded the distance between said first and said second flexible compensating members or flexible links increases and the longitudinal component of said first, second, third, and fourth members decreases while said first and said second loops remain generally opposite to one another, the ends of said first and said second flexible compensating members or flexible links open so as to increase said variable longitudinal distance between said first and said second ends of said first flexible compensating member or flexible link and so as to increase said variable longitudinal distance between said first and said second ends of said second flexible compensating member or flexible link so as to compensate for the decreasing of the longitudinal component of said first, second, third, and fourth members and substantially lessen the foreshortening of said stent upon its expansion; said stent pattern having a first long side and a second long side, said first long side provided with a plurality of pairs of engagement troughs, said second long side provided with a plurality of pairs of engagement protrusions, said plurality of pairs of engagement troughs and said plurality of pairs of engagement protrusions disposed substantially opposite each other, each of said plurality of pairs of said engagement troughs comprising a first engagement trough and a second engagement trough, said engagement troughs attached to said engagement protrusions.