| abstract |
Methods for forming, shaping and heat treating stents for reinforcement of the lumen of peristaltic organs. The stent is formed by knitting preferably a nitinol wire into a pattern of overlapping loops selected such that from a relaxed state each row of loops may shift axially relative to and independently of the rows on either side. This local lengthening and shortening accommodates peristalsis of the organ without migrating within the organ. |