Abstract: A medical implant such as a self-expanding shape memory alloy stent with a strut matrix formed by cut patterns in a wall of a tubular workpiece can be enhanced by arranging for the line of the laser beam when cutting the struts to be one that does not pass through the longitudinal rotational axis of the tubular workpiece. Such “off-axis” cutting can modify the cross-sectional shape and area of each strut, along its length. Such modulation can enhance the fatigue resistance of the stent matrix, or increase the radial force that the stent matrix is capable of exerting on bodily tissue within which it is implanted.

Abstract: A medical implant such as a self-expanding shape memory alloy stent with a strut matrix formed by cut patterns in a wall of a tubular workpiece can be enhanced by arranging for the line of the laser beam when cutting the struts to be one that does not pass through the longitudinal rotational axis of the tubular workpiece. Such “off-axis” cutting can modify the cross-sectional shape and area of each strut, along its length. Such modulation can enhance the fatigue resistance of the stent matrix, or increase the radial force that the stent matrix is capable of exerting on bodily tissue within which it is implanted.

Abstract: A polymer prosthesis with lumen and an axial length and having in a pre-delivery condition a plurality of relatively stiff stenting segments spaced from each other along the length of the prosthesis, the spaces between the relatively stiff stenting segments of a first polymer being bridged by relatively flexible linking segments of a second polymer, different from the first, the relatively stiff stenting segments and the relatively flexible linking segments being alternately arranged along the length of the prosthesis.

Abstract: A substantially flexible implant holder for holding a substantially tubular implant structure during fatigue testing of the implant structure, the implant holder having a substantially elongate cavity for occupation by the tubular implant structure and a cavity-surrounding part which extends from at least a first longitudinal end of the cavity to at least a second longitudinal end of the cavity, the cavity-surrounding part having a stiffness which gradually changes from a relatively high stiffness adjacent each of the longitudinal ends of the cavity to a relatively low stiffness adjacent a middle portion which is situated between the two longitudinal ends of the cavity.

Abstract: A fatigue test system for repetitively deforming a substantially tubular implant structure which is within a radial range and within an axial range expandable and contractable and which has at least a first and a second end, wherein the system comprises at least a first and second part which are controllably moveable relative to each other, and a first and a second fixture assembly for fixing the first end to the first part and the second end to the second part, so that the system controls in use the position of each of the first and second end of the tubular implant structure.

Abstract: A polymer prosthesis with lumen and an axial length and having in a pre-delivery condition a plurality of relatively stiff stenting segments spaced from each other along the length of the prosthesis, the spaces between the relatively stiff stenting segments of a first polymer being bridged by relatively flexible linking segments of a second polymer, different from the first, the relatively stiff stenting segments and the relatively flexible linking segments being alternately arranged along the length of the prosthesis.

Abstract: A fatigue test system for repetitively deforming a substantially tubular implant structure which is within a radial range and within an axial range expandable and contractable and which has at least a first and a second end, wherein the system comprises at least a first and second part which are controllably moveable relative to each other, and a first and a second fixture assembly for fixing the first end to the first part and the second end to the second part, so that the system controls in use the position of each of the first and second end of the tubular implant structure.

Abstract: A substantially flexible implant holder for holding a substantially tubular implant structure during fatigue testing of the implant structure, the implant holder having a substantially elongate cavity for occupation by the tubular implant structure and a cavity-surrounding part which extends from at least a first longitudinal end of the cavity to at least a second longitudinal end of the cavity, the cavity-surrounding part having a stiffness which gradually changes from a relatively high stiffness adjacent each of the longitudinal ends of the cavity to a relatively low stiffness adjacent a middle portion which is situated between the two longitudinal ends of the cavity.

Abstract: A medical implant such as a self-expanding shape memory alloy stent with a strut matrix formed by cut patterns in a wall of a tubular workpiece (12) can be enhanced by arranging for the line of the laser beam when cutting the struts (62) to be one that does not pass through the longitudinal rotational axis (10) of the tubular workpiece. Such “off-axis-” cutting can modify the cross-sectional shape and area of each strut, along its length. Such modulation can enhance the fatigue resistance of the stent matrix, or increase the radial force that the stent matrix is capable of exerting on bodily tissue within which it is implanted.

Abstract: An implant having capability to expand and contract radially through a range of diameters, with corresponding changes in the cross-sectional area of the lumen, said implant exhibiting a remembered configuration in which the diameter of the implant is at the low end of said range of diameters, such that the implant is prompted to change its configuration towards said remembered configuration, that is, towards a reduced diameter configuration, upon the imposition on the implant of outside stimulus; said implant being characterised by: a molecule distributed within its bulk volume that preferentially responds to an applied field that permeates said volume, wherein said applied field constitutes the outside stimulus, and the preferential response of the molecule provides the prompt on the implant to change to the said remembered configuration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to tubular radially expansible metal structures, having an abluminal wall, a luminal wall and a radial wall thickness therebetween with struts defining through-apertures in the wall, the structure further defining a plurality of expansible rings arranged adjacent one another along the longitudinal axis of the structure, each of the rings defining at least one bridge strut, and adjacent rings being linked by a bridge extending between adjacent bridge struts on adjacent rings. The bridges, a plurality of which are distributed throughout the length of the tubular structure and are configured and arranged to divide the tubular structure into axially spaced and electrically insulated sections, advantageously exhibit reduced electrical conductivity throughout their wall thickness. The present invention relates furthermore to a method of manufacturing such a tubular structure, as well as a method of visualizing a bodily lumen supported by such a tubular structure deployed therein.