Stent designs

Abstract

A stent may be constructed comprising a plurality of interconnected circumferential bands each bands comprising a plurality of concave and/or convex M-shaped segments joined together by loops.

1 . A stent having a proximal end and a distal end, the stent comprising a plurality of interconnected circumferential bands with a flowpath therethrough, 
 at least one of the bands including at least one substantially M-shaped segment selected from the group consisting of convex M-shaped segments and concave M-shaped segments.    
     
     
         2 . The stent of  claim 1  wherein the at least one M-shaped segment is a convex M-shaped segment.  
     
     
         3 . The stent of  claim 2  wherein the convex M-shaped segment comprises a first convex outer leg, a second convex outer leg and a connector connecting the first convex outer leg and the second convex outer leg.  
     
     
         4 . The stent of  claim 2  wherein the at least one band comprises a plurality of convex M-shaped segments.  
     
     
         5 . The stent of  claim 2  comprising a first band having a plurality of interconnected convex M-shaped segments and a second band having a plurality of interconnected convex M-shaped segments.  
     
     
         6 . The stent of  claim 5  wherein adjacent convex M-shaped segments in the first band are interconnected via a loop extending therebetween.  
     
     
         7 . The stent of  claim 6  wherein the loop is formed of a concave first portion and a concave second portion.  
     
     
         8 . The stent of  claim 5  wherein the convex M-shaped segments of the first band are inverted relative to the convex M-shaped segments of the second band.  
     
     
         9 . The stent of  claim 8  wherein the convex M-shaped segments of the first bands at least partially abut and are connected.  
     
     
         10 . The stent of  claim 1  wherein the at least one M-shaped segment is a concave M-shaped segment.  
     
     
         11 . The stent of  claim 10  wherein the concave M-shaped segment comprises a first concave outer leg, a second concave outer leg and a connector connecting the first concave outer leg and the second concave outer leg.  
     
     
         12 . The stent of  claim 10  wherein the at least one band comprises a plurality of concave M-shaped segments.  
     
     
         13 . The stent of  claim 12  wherein the first portion is substantially parallel to the first concave leg of the first concave M-shaped segment and the second portion is substantially parallel to the second concave leg of the second concave M-shaped segment.  
     
     
         14 . The stent of  claim 10  comprising a first band having a plurality of interconnected concave M-shaped segments and a second band having a plurality of interconnected concave M-shaped segments.  
     
     
         15 . The stent of  claim 14  wherein adjacent concave M-shaped segments in the first band are interconnected via a loop extending therebetween.  
     
     
         16 . The stent of  claim 15  wherein the loop is formed of a convex first portion and a convex second portion.  
     
     
         17 . The stent of  claim 14  wherein the concave M-shaped segments of the first band are inverted relative to the concave M-shaped segments of the second band.  
     
     
         18 . The stent of  claim 17  wherein the concave M-shaped segments of the first bands at least partially abut and are connected.  
     
     
         19 . The stent of  claim 1  comprising a plurality of interconnected convex M-shaped segments and concave M-shaped segments.  
     
     
         20 . A stent comprising a plurality of connected tubular bands, at least one of the tubular bands comprising a repeating pattern of three or more substantially parallel interconnected segments with a first curvature and three or more substantially parallel interconnected segments with a second curvature, one of the segments with the first curvature connected to one of the segments with the second curvature.  
     
     
         21 . The stent of  claim 20  wherein the first curvature is opposite the second curvature.  
     
     
         22 . The stent of  claim 20  wherein a plurality of the tubular bands each comprise a repeating pattern of three or more-substantially parallel interconnected segments with a first curvature and three or more substantially parallel interconnected segments with a second curvature, one of the segments of the first curvature connected to one of the segments with the second curvature.  
     
     
         23 . The stent of  claim 22  wherein adjacent tubular bands are out of phase with one another.  
     
     
         24 . The stent of  claim 22  wherein adjacent tubular bands are out of phase with one another by ninety degrees.