| abstract |
The intravascular stent is formed from a composite wire includes an inner core of radiopaque metal, a polymer layer coaxially disposed about the inner core, and an outer metal layer coaxially disposed about the polymer layer. The intermediary polymer layer acts as a barrier material between the inner core and the outer sheath, so that the inner core and outer sheath may be made of dissimilar metallic layers, and the intermediary polymer layer will prevent a galvanic reaction between the inner core and the peripheral metal layer. The intravascular stent has ends flared radially outwardly to prevent radially and longitudinally inward deformation of the ends of the stent when the stent is disposed in a desired location in a patient's vasculature. |