Stent

Abstract

A stent has a tubular flexible body with a wall formed of a web structure. The web structure has a plurality of neighboring web patterns which include webs arranged side by side. The web patterns are interconnected via at least one connection element. To prevent the connection element from moving out of the plane of the wall during expansion, the connection elements are each provided with connection webs arranged at an angle relative to one another and interconnected via hinges.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A stent comprising: 
 a tubular flexible body with a wall having a web structure which can be transformed from a non-expanded state into an expanded state,    said web structure comprising a plurality of neighboring web patterns which include webs arranged side by side, and    adjacent pairs of said web patterns being interconnected by at least one connection element,    each of said connection elements comprises a central connection web and a pair of outer connection webs that are arranged at an angle relative to one another and interconnected via a pair of inner hinges.    
     
     
         2 . The stent according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said connection webs in the non-expanded state of said web structure are arranged at least approximately at right angles relative to one another.    
     
     
         3 . The stent according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 said connection webs have equal widths.    
     
     
         4 . The stent according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 said connection webs have different widths.    
     
     
         5 . The stent according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 said central connection web has a smaller width than that of the outer connection webs.    
     
     
         6 . The stent according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said connection webs have equal widths.    
     
     
         7 . The stent according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said connection webs have different widths.    
     
     
         8 . The stent according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said central connection web has a smaller width than that of the outer connection webs.    
     
     
         9 . The stent according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said outer connection webs are each connected via an outer hinge to the neighboring web of said wall structure.    
     
     
         10 . The stent according to  claim 9 , wherein 
 said outer hinges are formed as film hinges.    
     
     
         11 . The stent according to  claim 10 , wherein 
 said inner hinges are formed as film hinges.    
     
     
         12 . The stent according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said inner hinges are formed as film hinges.    
     
     
         13 . The stent according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the wall of said body is formed of a biocompatible material.    
     
     
         14 . The stent according to  claim 13 , wherein 
 said web structure and said connection elements are formed of a nickel-titanium alloy, plastics or stainless steel.    
     
     
         15 . The stent according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the lengths of said connection webs are equal.    
     
     
         16 . The stent according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the lengths of said connection webs are different.