US Patent 7186263 Mesh graft and stent for increased flexibility

A composite stent-graft tubular prosthesis includes an inner PTFE tubular structure, an outer PTFE tubular structure positioned about the inner PTFE tubular structure and a diametrically deformable stent interposed between the inner and outer PTFE tubular structures. The interposed stent is formed from an elongate wire helically wound with a plurality of longitudinally spaced turns into an open configuration. Each of the turns includes successive aligned upper and lower wave-like peaks. Selective ones of said upper and lower peaks are exposed exteriorly of the outer PTFE structure to render the composite prosthesis longitudinally flexible.