Stent having radially expandable main body

Abstract

A stent made of a material having a low strength and having a main body circumscribing a cylindrical shape and radially expandable from a contracted starting position into a dilated support position, comprising a) a plurality of support segments disposed around the circumference and arrayed on one another in the axial direction each segment being formed by a strut meandering in its coarse structure in its contracted starting position and having alternately opposing meandering curves expandable into the support position made of flexible material; b) a plurality of axial connectors connecting between zenith points of at least a part of the meandering curves in the axial-parallel direction of the support segments; and c) at least one means for stabilizing the strut coarse structure in its contracted starting position against radial expansion and being automatically detachable upon a radial expansion of the stent.

1 . A stent made of a material having a low strength and having a main body circumscribing a cylindrical shape and radially expandable from a contracted starting position into a dilated support position, comprising:
 a) a plurality of support segments disposed around the circumference and arrayed on one another in the axial direction each segment being formed by a strut meandering in its coarse structure in its contracted starting position and having alternately opposing meandering curves expandable into the support position made of flexible material;   b) a plurality of axial connectors connecting between zenith points of at least a part of the meandering curves in the axial-parallel direction of the support segments; and   c) at least one means for stabilizing the strut coarse structure in its contracted starting position against radial expansion and being automatically detachable upon a radial expansion of the stent.   
   
   
       2 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one stabilization means is formed by a detachable glued joint between adjacent meandering curves of one or more struts. 
   
   
       3 . The stent of  claim 2 , wherein the glued joint is attached to boundary and internal struts. 
   
   
       4 . The stent of  claim 2 , wherein the glued joint is attached in such a manner that the glued joint may be loaded upon radial expansion by tension or shear. 
   
   
       5 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one stabilization means is formed by catch elements which interact with one another on the meandering curves which may be engaged with one another upon transfer of the stent into its contracted starting position and are detachable upon radial expansion of the stent. 
   
   
       6 . The stent of  claim 5 , wherein the catch elements are formed by hook projections on the meandering curves. 
   
   
       7 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one stabilization means is formed by fixing traverses which connect the boundary meandering curves and may be broken open upon radial expansion. 
   
   
       8 . The stent of  claim 7 , wherein the fixing traverses run between zenith points of two adjacent meandering curves and have a bend as the intended breakpoint. 
   
   
       9 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one stabilization means is formed by a plurality of fine structure struts peripherally disposed around the boundary of the stent ends. 
   
   
       10 . The stent of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of fine structure struts are implemented as double struts folded in a zigzag in a lateral plane of the stent which are fixed on one another at their adjacent groin points in the contracted starting position. 
   
   
       11 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one stabilization means is formed by a plurality of extension struts on the stent which detachably connect the boundary struts to the catheter for placing the stent. 
   
   
       12 . The stent of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of extension struts are each bonded to the stent via an intended breakpoint. 
   
   
       13 . The stent of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of x-ray marker projections coated via marker polymer on the boundary struts, wherein the at least one stabilization means is formed by x-ray marker projections coupled in a ring via the marker polymer coating in the contracted state. 
   
   
       14 . The stent of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of x-ray marker projections are provided with radially oriented transverse connection elements. 
   
   
       15 . The stent of  claim 13 , wherein a ring which is embedded in the marker polymer coating is drawn onto the x-ray marker projections in the contracted stent state.