US 11,865,019 B2
Stent having adjacent elements connected by narrow flexible webs
Ryan D. Kariniemi, Flagstaff, AZ (US); Jeffrey J. Kustusch, Flagstaff, AZ (US); and Mark J. Ulm, Flagstaff, AZ (US)
Assigned to W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Newark, DE (US)
Filed by W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Newark, DE (US)
Filed on Aug. 24, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/410,267.
Application 17/410,267 is a continuation of application No. 15/865,579, filed on Jan. 9, 2018, granted, now 11,129,736.
Application 15/865,579 is a continuation of application No. 14/801,486, filed on Jul. 16, 2015, granted, now 9,895,243, issued on Feb. 20, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/025,670, filed on Jul. 17, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2021/0378848 A1, Dec. 9, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61F 2/89 (2013.01); A61F 2/86 (2013.01); A61F 2/915 (2013.01); A61F 2/07 (2013.01); A61F 2/82 (2013.01)
CPC A61F 2/89 (2013.01) [A61F 2/07 (2013.01); A61F 2/86 (2013.01); A61F 2/915 (2013.01); A61F 2002/828 (2013.01); A61F 2002/91558 (2013.01); A61F 2210/0066 (2013.01); A61F 2210/0076 (2013.01); A61F 2220/005 (2013.01); A61F 2230/0069 (2013.01); A61F 2240/001 (2013.01); A61F 2250/002 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0018 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0029 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0068 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An endoprosthesis having a length, a radius, an inner circumference and an outer circumference, the endoprosthesis comprising:
adjacent stent elements formed of a first material; and
a flexible connecting element formed of a second material different than the first material, the second material being a polymeric material and the flexible connecting element spanning across a space between adjacent stent elements; and
wherein the flexible connecting element is biased to fold substantially between the inner circumference and the outer circumference of the endoprosthesis when the endoprosthesis is compacted.