Tapered Helical Stent and Method for Manufacturing the Stent

Abstract

A tapered helical implantation device for peripheral arteries and other body lumina of locally varying diameter, including struts connected by loops and shaped in a helical winding. The helical winding defines turns and, when expanded, has a first end with a first expanded circumference and a second end with a second expanded circumference greater than the first expanded circumference to form a stent tapering outward from the first end towards the second end. Bridges connect adjacent ones of the turns. The struts, the loops, and the bridges define a series of pores aligned along the helix, the pores having a substantially uniform pore size. The pores has a substantially similar area. The pore size limits a size of a particle that can pass therethrough. In particular, the pore size limits a size of a spherical particle that can pass therethrough.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tapered helical implantation device for peripheral arteries and other body lumina of locally varying diameter, comprising:
 struts connected by loops and shaped in a helical winding, said helical winding defining turns and, when expanded, having a first end with a first expanded circumference, and a second end with a second expanded circumference greater than said first expanded circumference to form a stent tapering outward from said first end towards said second end;   bridges connecting adjacent ones of said turns; and   said struts, said loops, and said bridges defining a series of pores aligned along said helix, said pores having a substantially uniform pore size from said first end to said second end even when a diameter of the stent varies along its length from said first end to said second end to form the outwardly tapered stent from said first end to said second end when expanded.