Plain woven stents

Abstract

Self-expandable, woven intravascular devices for use as stents (both straight and tapered), filters (both temporary and permanent) and occluders for insertion and implantation into a variety of anatomical structures. The devices may be formed from shape memory metals such as nitinol. The devices may also be formed from biodegradable materials. Delivery systems for the devices include two hollow tubes that operate coaxially. A device is secured to the tubes prior to the implantation and delivery of the device by securing one end of the device to the outside of the inner tube and by securing the other end of the device to the outside of the outer tube. The stents may be partially or completely covered by graft materials, but may also be bare. The devices may be formed from a single wire. The devices may be formed by either hand or machine weaving. The devices may be created by bending shape memory wires around tabs projecting from a template, and weaving the ends of the wires to create the body of the device such that the wires cross each other to form a plurality of angles, at least one of the angles being obtuse. The value of the obtuse angle may be increased by axially compressing the body.

1 - 70 . (canceled) 
     
     
         71 . A stent, comprising:
 at least five wires woven together to form a self-expanding stent, each of the wires having a first end and a second end, the at least five wires crossing each other to form a plurality of angles, at least one of the angles being obtuse;   wherein the value of the at least one obtuse angle is increased by axially compressing the stent; and   wherein each first end and each second end of each of the at least five wires are fixedly joined together by a tube.   
     
     
         72 . The stent of  claim 71 , wherein the tube is a nitinol tube. 
     
     
         73 . The stent of  claim 72 , wherein the joint is reinforced by a weld. 
     
     
         74 . The stent of  claim 71 , wherein the at least five wires comprise a superelastic material. 
     
     
         75 . A stent, comprising:
 a plurality of wires, each wire having a first end and a second end, the plurality of wires being woven to form a self-expanding stent;   each wire of the plurality of wires having a first segment extending helically in a first direction and a second segment extending helically in a second direction opposite the first direction such to form the woven self-expanding stent;   wherein the first end and the second end of each of the plurality of wires are joined together using a piece of metal tubing to form a joint; and   wherein upon bending of the body no shortening occurs and a diameter of the body does not increase.   
     
     
         76 . The stent of  claim 75 , wherein the joint is reinforced by a weld. 
     
     
         77 . The stent of  claim 75 , wherein the metal tubing is crimped around the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         78 . The stent of  claim 75 , wherein the metal tubing is formed from nitinol.