Patent attributes
Stent device having stent wires interlocking with each other in various ways is disclosed. In primary interlocking structures, the stent wires include a loop formed in a first stent wire through which the second stent wire is threaded. Additional loops can be included in the primary interlocking structures, on one or both of the two stent wires. Primary interlocking structures are positioned at peaks and valleys in the respective first and second stent wires. Secondary interlocking structures do not contain loop features in the interlocking structure, but rather include first and second stent wires engaged with each other by passing first stent wire over the second stent wire forming a hanging arrangement with, e.g., the peak of one of the stent wires located in the valley of the other stent wire. Including one or more primary interlocking structures minimizes or prevents axial shortening and provides flexibility to the stent device.
