| abstract |
The present invention provides a lumen support stent (20) for use in an artery or any body lumen. The stent is formed from a plurality of ladder elements (32) having elongated ribs (28) bowed to define a circumferential arc of the tubular member and end rungs (30) affixed to the elongated ribs. The elongated ribs of adjacent ladder elements are substantially parallel to one another and slidably engaged by the end rungs of adjacent ladder elements. Sliding of the end rungs along the circumferential arc defined by the engaged ribs creates a variable circumferential distance between the end rungs of adjacent ladder elements. Consequently, the stent has a first diameter in which the circumferential distance between end rungs of adjacent ladder elements is collapsed, and a variable second diameter in which the circumferential distance between end rungs of adjacent ladder elements is expanded. |