| abstract |
A helical stent having flat ends for insertion into a vessel of a patient provides a safe and effective means for ensuring the patency of the vessel. The stent comprises a tubular member having a thickness, front and back open ends, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The tubular member includes a plurality of helically oriented continuous adjacent hoops extending between the front and back ends. The hoops have a plurality of longitudinal struts, each having opposing ends and a center therebetween, wherein the ends of the struts are shaped to form a plurality of loops connecting adjacent struts at the ends of the struts. The tubular member has end loops and the front and back ends thereof, wherein the end loops at each end are substantially aligned with each other along a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. |