Abstract: A stent formed of a metallic material having a two-way memory adapted to be retrieved or repositioned after delivery includes an elongated tubular body and at least one crown connected to a respective longitudinal end of the body, the crown including a plurality of unconnected leaves, each leaf having a longitudinally extending frame connected at one end to the end of the body. A method of manufacturing the stent so that the crown has a greater two-way memory effect than the body is disclosed.

Abstract: A modular stent comprises at least one stent module including an intermediate segment consisting of one of either a closed-cell segment or a Z-segment and a pair of end segments connected to respective longitudinal ends of said intermediate segment, each end segment consisting of the other of said closed-cell segment or Z-segment, each closed-cell segment consisting solely of at least one annular closed-cell ring and each Z-segment consisting solely of at least one annular Z-ring. A method of manufacturing a stent form a small diameter tube includes laser-cutting the small diameter tube to define a plurality of longitudinally adjacent Z-rings, providing interconnector portions of said tube integrally joining facing aligned or offset Z-rings, expanding the small diameter tube, and removing predetermined interconnector portions from the expanded tube to provide the predetermined desired arrangement of interconnected closed-cell rings and Z-rings.

Abstract: A stent formed of a metallic material having a two-way memory adapted to be retrieved or repositioned after delivery includes an elongated tubular body and at least one crown connected to a respective longitudinal end of said body, the crown including a plurality of unconnected leaves, each leaf having a longitudinally extending frame connected at one end to said end of said body. A method of manufacturing the stent to that the crown has a greater two-way memory effect than the body is disclosed.

Abstract: A modular stent comprises at least one stent module including an intermediate segment consisting of one of either a closed-cell segment or a Z-segment and a pair of end segments connected to respective longitudinal ends of said intermediate segment, each end segment consisting of the other of said closed-cell segment or Z-segment, each closed-cell segment consisting solely of at least one annular closed-cell ring and each Z-segment consisting solely of at least one annular Z-ring. A method of manufacturing a stent form a small diameter tube includes laser-cutting the small diameter tube to define a plurality of longitudinally adjacent Z-rings, providing interconnector portions of said tube integrally joining facing aligned or offset Z-rings, expanding the small diameter tube, and removing predetermined interconnector portions from the expanded tube to provide the predetermined desired arrangement of interconnected closed-cell rings and Z-rings.

Abstract: A stent formed of a metallic material having a two-way memory adapted to be retrieved or repositioned after delivery includes an elongated tubular body and at least one crown connected to a respective longitudinal end of said body, the crown including a plurality of unconnected leaves, each leaf having a longitudinally extending frame connected at one end to said end of said body. A method of manufacturing the stent so that the crown has a greater two-way memory effect than the body is disclosed.

Abstract: A modular stent comprises at least one stent module including an intermediate segment consisting of one of either a closed-cell segment or a Z-segment and a pair of end segments connected to respective longitudinal ends of said intermediate segment, each end segment consisting of the other of said closed-cell segment or Z-segment, each closed-cell segment consisting solely of at least one annular closed-cell ring and each Z-segment consisting solely of at least one annular Z-ring. A method of manufacturing a stent from a small diameter tube includes laser-cutting the small diameter tube to define a plurality of longitudinally adjacent Z-rings, providing interconnector portions of said tube integrally joining facing aligned or offset Z-rings, expanding the small diameter tube, and removing predetermined interconnector portions from the expanded tube to provide the predetermined desired arrangement of interconnected closed-cell rings and Z-rings.

Abstract: A stent comprising a wire skeletal frame, the frame being adapted to assume a first condition in which the frame is relatively rigid and substantially tubular in configuration and a second condition in which the frame is flexible, of reduced stress, and collapsible, such that in the second condition walls of the frame are adapted to be positioned proximate each other to form a stent diameter approximating the combined thickness of the frame walls, the frame in its second condition being substantially devoid of bias therein urging the frame to assume the first configuration.

Abstract: A stent comprising a wire skeletal frame, the frame being adapted to assume a first condition in which the frame is relatively rigid and substantially tubular in configuration and a second condition in which the frame is flexible, of reduced stress, and collapsible, such that in the second condition walls of the frame are adapted to be positioned against each other to form a stent diameter substantially equal to the combined thickness of the frame walls in abutting engagement with each other, the frame in its second condition being substantially devoid of bias therein urging the frame to assume the first configuration.