Stent configurations

Claim 2

A generally cylindrical, radially expandable stent comprised of a plurality of annular elements aligned to form a cylindrical stent body, each annular element having a first end and a second end, the first end longitudinally offset from the second end, each annular element comprised of a plurality of separate boomerang-shaped segments, each boomerang segment having a top and a bottom, the top circumferentially offset from the bottom, the top and bottom interconnected at a first end and at a second end to define a closed perimeter with an opening therethrough, the boomerang segments interconnected top-to-bottom around the annular element, and a plurality of curvilinear interconnecting elements, each curvilinear interconnecting element extending from a first end of a boomerang segment in an annular element to a second end of a boomerang segment in an adjacent annular element.

Claim 3

The stent of claim 1 wherein each interconnecting element has one or more bends therein.

Claim 4

The stent of claim 2 wherein each interconnecting element is a U-shaped segment.

Claim 5

The stent of claim 2 wherein each interconnecting element is a zig-zag-shaped segment.

Claim 6

The stent of claim 1 made of metal.

Claim 7

The stent of claim 5 made of stainless steel.

Claim 8

The stent of claim 5 wherein the metal is a shape memory metal.

Claim 9

The stent of claim 1 wherein an interconnecting element extends from each boomerang-shaped segment in an annular element to a boomerang-shaped segment in an adjacent annular element.

Claim 10

The stent of claim 3 wherein an interconnecting element extends from each boomerang-shaped segment in an annular element to a neighboring boomerang-shaped segment in an adjacent annular element.

Claim 11

The stent of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of each interconnecting element is curvilinear.

Claim 12

The stent of claim 1 wherein each boomerang-shaped segment is symmetric about a midline extending from the top of the segment to the bottom of the segment, the midline situated midway between the ends of the segments.

Claim 13

The stent of claim 1 wherein each bottom has a dimple therein.

Claim 14

The stent of claim 1 made of a bio-compatible material.

Claim 15

The stent of claim 1 wherein each interconnecting element has a first end and a second end, the first end circumferentially offset from the second end.

Claim 16

The stent of claim 1 wherein the orientation of adjacent annular elements differs.

Claim 17

The stent of claim 1 wherein adjacent annular elements are oppositely oriented.

Claim 18

The stent of claim 1 including annular elements of different lengths.

Claim 19

The stent of claim 1 including annular elements having differing number of boomerang shaped segments.

Claim 20

The stent of claim 1 including boomerang segments of differing sizes.

Claim 21

The stent of claim 1 wherein nearest neighboring boomerang segments in adjacent annular elements are circumferentially offset.

Claim 22

The stent of claim 1 wherein circumferentially adjacent boomerang segments are joined together with a curvilinear element extending from the top of a boomerang segment to the bottom of an adjacent boomerang segment.

Claim 23

The stent of claim 1 wherein circumferentially adjacent boomerang segments are joined together with an element having one or more bends therein, the element extending from the top of a boomerang segment to the bottom of an adjacent boomerang segment.

Claim 24

A generally cylindrical, radially expandable stent comprised of a plurality of annular elements aligned to form a cylindrical stent body, each annular element comprised of a plurality of separate boomerang-shaped segments, each segment having a top and a bottom, the top circumferentially offset from the bottom, a first end and a second end, the top and bottom interconnected at the first and second ends to define an opening therethrough, adjacent segments in an annular element connected by a link extending from the top of a segment to the bottom of an adjacent segment, adjacent annular elements interconnected by one or more interconnecting elements, each interconnecting element extending from an end of a boomerang-shaped segment in one annular element to an end of a boomerang-shaped segment in an adjacent annular element.

Claim 25

A generally cylindrical, radially expandable stent comprised of a plurality of annular elements aligned to form a cylindrical stent body, each annular element comprised of a plurality of separate boomerang-shaped segments, each segment having a top and a bottom, the top circumferentially offset from the bottom, a first end and a second end, the top and bottom interconnected at the first and second ends to define an opening therethrough, adjacent segments in an annular element connected by a link extending from the top of a segment to the bottom of an adjacent segment, adjacent annular elements interconnected by one or more interconnecting elements, each interconnecting element extending from an end of a boomerang-shaped segment in one annular element to an end of a boomerang-shaped segment in an adjacent annular element.

Claim 26

A generally cylindrical, radially expandable stent comprised of a plurality of interconnected annular elements, each annular element having a first end and a second end, the first end longitudinally offset from the second end, each annular element comprised of a plurality of boomerang-shaped segments, each boomerang segment having a top and a bottom, the top circumferentially offset from the bottom, the top and bottom interconnected at a first end and at a second end to define a closed perimeter, each boomerang segment having an opening therethrough, the closed perimeter of circumferentially adjacent boomerang segments non-overlapping, the boomerang segments interconnected top-to-bottom around the annular element, and a plurality of curvilinear interconnecting elements, each curvilinear interconnecting element extending from a first end of a boomerang segment in an annular element to a second end of a boomerang segment in an adjacent annular element.

Claim 27

A generally cylindrical, radially expandable stent comprised of a plurality of interconnected annular elements, each annular element having a first end and a second end, the first end longitudinally offset from the second end, each annular element comprised of a plurality of boomerang-shaped segments, each boomerang segment having a top and a bottom, the top circumferentially offset from the bottom, the top and bottom interconnected at a first end and at a second end to define a closed perimeter, each boomerang segment having an opening therethrough, the closed perimeter of circumferentially adjacent boomerang segments non-overlapping, the boomerang segments interconnected top-to-bottom around the annular element, and a plurality of curvilinear interconnecting elements, each curvilinear interconnecting element extending from a first end of a boomerang segment in an annular element to a second end of a boomerang segment in an adjacent annular element.