Stent configurations

Abstract

Improved stent configurations exhibiting limited recoil, resistance to compression and improved longitudinal flexibility are disclosed. The stent comprised of a plurality of annular elements aligned to form a cylindrical stent body. The annular elements are comprised of a plurality of open, generally boomerang-shaped segments interconnected top-to-bottom around each of the annular elements. Adjacent annular elements are interconnected by interconnecting element.

What is claimed is as follows:  
     
         1 . A generally cylindrical, radially expandable stent comprised of 
 a plurality of annular elements aligned to form a cylindrical stent body,    each element comprised of a plurality of open, boomerang-shaped segments, each segment having a top and a bottom, the segments interconnected top-to-bottom around each of the annular elements,    adjacent annular elements interconnected in one or more places.    
     
     
         2 . The stent of  claim 1  wherein adjacent annular elements are 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.  
     
     
         3 . 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.  
     
     
         4 . 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.  
     
     
         5 . The stent of  claim 1  wherein each interconnecting element has one or more bends therein.  
     
     
         6 . The stent of  claim 5  wherein each interconnecting element is a U-shaped segment.  
     
     
         7 . The stent of  claim 5  wherein each interconnecting element is a zig-zag-shaped segment.  
     
     
         8 . The stent of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of each interconnecting element is curvilinear  
     
     
         9 . 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  
     
     
         10 . The stent of  claim 1  wherein each bottom has a dimple therein.  
     
     
         11 . The stent of  claim 1  made of metal.  
     
     
         12 . The stent of  claim 11  made of stainless steel.  
     
     
         13 . The stent of  claim 11  wherein the metal is a shape memory metal.  
     
     
         14 . The stent of  claim 1  made of a bio-compatible material.  
     
     
         15 . A generally cylindrical, radially expandable stent comprised of 
 a plurality of annular elements aligned to form a cylindrical stent body,    each element comprised of a plurality of open, boomerang-shaped segments interconnected top-to-bottom around each of the annular elements, and    interconnecting U-shaped elements interconnecting adjacent ends of each boomerang-shaped segment to a neighboring segment in an adjacent annular element.    
     
     
         16 . A generally cylindrical, radially expandable stent comprised of 
 a plurality of annular elements aligned to form a cylindrical stent body,    each element comprised of a plurality of open, boomerang-shaped segments, each segment having a top and a bottom, 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.