Endovascular support device and method

Abstract

An endovascular support device for treatment of chronic restenosis or other vascular narrowing is disclosed together with a method of manufacture and a method for delivering a plurality of such devices to an affected area of a vessel. In a preferred embodiment, the endovascular support device comprises a unitary wire-like structure configured to form a plurality of upper and lower peaks which may be compressed for delivery to an affected area of a coronary or peripheral vessel in a human, and then expanded to maintain a passageway through the vessel.

1 - 3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . An intraluminal support device, comprising: 
 A plurality of balloon expandable rings parallel and adjacently aligned, each ring comprising axial turns, wherein at least one of the axial turns facing a first direction and at least one of the axial turns facing a second direction are not connected to an adjacently aligned expandable ring and have an ellipsoidal cross-section.    
   
   
       5 . The support device of  claim 4  wherein each of the plurality of straight portions is disposed between a pair of axial turns.  
   
   
       6 . The support device of  claim 5  wherein the straight portions extend from a first axial turn to a second axial turn.  
   
   
       7 . wherein the rings are made of a metal alloy.  
   
   
       8 . wherein the rings are expanded from a first expandable radius to a second expanded radius.