Abstract: The self-expanding plastic stent is a resilient plastic stent with such expansional strength that a small diameter delivery system may be used to implant the stent, thereby minimizing possible complications for the patient. The stent is made from a braided monofilament, which may be polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherketone (PEK), polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), polyaryletherketone (PAEK), polyetherketoneether-ketoneketone (PEKEKK), or any blends and alloys of these particular resins. The plastic stent may or may not be covered with polymer film. When used, the polymer film includes materials based on polyurethanes, silicones, or materials that biodegrade or erode in the body. Specifically the biodegradable materials might include poly-L-lactide, poly-D-lactide, polyglycolide, ?-caprolactone (epsilon-caprolactone), starch, and collagen or its polymer blends, alloys or copolymers. This material is heat-treated. The monofilament preferably has a diameter of 0.2-0.7 mm.

Abstract: The self-expanding plastic stent is a resilient plastic stent with such expansional strength that a small diameter delivery system may be used to implant the stent, thereby minimizing possible complications for the patient. The stent is made from a braided monofilament, which may be polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherketone (PEK), polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), polyaryletherketone (PAEK), polyetherketoneether-ketoneketone (PEKEKK), or any blends and alloys of these particular resins. The plastic stent may or may not be covered with polymer film. When used, the polymer film includes materials based on polyurethanes, silicones, or materials that biodegrade or erode in the body. Specifically the biodegradable materials might include poly-L-lactide, poly-D-lactide, polyglycolide, ?-caprolactone (epsilon-caprolactone), starch, and collagen or its polymer blends, alloys or copolymers. This material is heat-treated. The monofilament preferably has a diameter of 0.2-0.7 mm.

Abstract: The stent compression tool is used to install a diametrically compressible stent in a delivery catheter. The tool has a tubular configuration with a larger funnel mouth at one end and a narrower opening at the opposite end. The basic steps in the process comprise extending the stent carrying member from its catheter sheath, passing the carrying member through the tool from the narrower end thereof, placing the stent over the carrying member and compressing the stent by pushing it through the funnel mouth of the tool and the narrower lumen of the tool, inserting the stent grip member of the delivery catheter into the stent and further into the tool, pushing the end of the sheath into the end of the tool, using the carrying member and its stent grip to draw the compressed stent from the tool into the sheath, and removing the tool from the carrying member.