CN1330530A

CN1330530A - Expandable stent and method for manufacturing the same

Info

Publication number: CN1330530A
Application number: CN99814374A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 马志勇
Original assignee: MIVI TECHNOLOGIES Inc
Current assignee: MIVI TECHNOLOGIES Inc
Priority date: 1998-11-09
Filing date: 1999-04-30
Publication date: 2002-01-09
Also published as: ID29394A; JP2002529138A; NO20012293L; KR20020012533A; WO2000027306A1; EP1128783A1; TW418098B; NO20012293D0; CA2350810A1; AU3804099A; IL143048A0

Abstract

An expandable stent is disclosed which is implantable within a blood vessel or other body lumen for maintaining lumen patency. The stent comprises a plurality of interconnected stent modules. Each of the stent modules includes first and second segments which are joined together by first and second connectors located on diametrically opposite sides of the module. The first and second segments are formed in a sinusoidal pattern and are moveable between flattened and expanded configurations. The stent modules are coupled along a common longitudinal axis with interconnection elements extending between the connectors of adjacent modules. This arrangement results in a stent having optimal longitudinal flexibility as well as radial stability. The modules may be fabricated in an automated manufacturing method using inexpensive equipment from an even number of wire strands of substantially equal length. In an alternative embodiment of the invention graft material may be clamped between wire wall sections of the stent for delivering drugs to the site of a target lesion.

Description

Expandable stent and manufacture method thereof

The application relates to a kind of expandable stent that is configured in body lumen such as the blood vessel.This stent is useful handling atherosclerosis aspect narrow.

Cardiovascular disease is the most important reason that causes the U.S. and Canadian population death.This condition of illness normally causes that by the deposition of fat in the coronary artery it is referred to as atherosclerosis.Atherosclerosis causes coronarius narrow gradually, and causes flowing to the corresponding minimizing of blood flow of cardiac muscle.This can cause serious clinical complication, for example angina pectoris or myocardial infarction.

Stent is a kind of little tube, is made by the metal of biocompatibility usually, and this device is inserted in blood vessel or the similar tube chamber to keep the opening of vessel lumen.In case configuration, stent is the support blood vessels wall part radially, helps to prevent atherosclerosis obstruction tube chamber.

Usually the blood vessel interior spheroid dilating catheter by a kind of thin-walled disposes stent.This step is installed a compression stent around being included in an expandable spheroid that is arranged on the conduit top.The internist is directed to desired location with conduit carefully, simultaneously this step of monitoring on display screen.For example, conduit can be inserted in patient's the femoral artery, and progresses into the bone tremulous pulse, rises to aorta and enters coronary artery at last.In case conduit enters desired location, the deposition that the internist flattens fatty disaster with regard to dilating ball, and the expansion stent makes the complete expansion state of stent from compressive state to the support blood vessels wall.Then, the spheroid venting is dwindled, and conduit is extracted in the patient body.

For effectively, stent must have pliability and radial stiffness longitudinally.Pliability must make the internist in configuration guiding catheter full of twists and turns part of passing vascular access easily during stent.In case after radial stiffness need guarantee the configuration stent, this stent had the opening that mechanical hardness keeps vessel lumen.In other words, stent must be prevented hemostatic tube narrow once more (that is coronarius chronic the or acute obturation after the spheroid angioplasty) effectively.

In order to satisfy these requirements, the past had proposed various expandable stents.For example, the U.S. Pat 5514154 that on May 7th, 1996 was authorized people such as Lau discloses a kind of stent, and it comprises a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical members, and these cylindrical members link together and align on a common longitudinal axis.Each single can form a kind of sinuous figure that fluctuates, and comprises outwardly directed edge when stent is inflated.People's such as Lau stent presents good vertical pliability, but the blood vessel wall that is inserted into the position of being hurt on the health when them is when being held in place stent, and the edge that stretches out can damage tissue.People's such as Lau stent spare is preferably by making through the stainless steel tube behind chemical etching and the laser making figure.This manufacture process needs expensive equipment, as the laser instrument of machinery control.

The Canadian Patent of announcing on May 2nd, 1,996 2202476 of authorizing people such as Birdsall is also represented a kind of prior art.This patent relates to a kind of expanding apparatus of connection, and it comprises a plurality of stent parts that formed by the tinsel that is arranged in fluctuation fluctuating figure.These stent parts link together by a series of little solder joints, and this has limited vertical pliability of stent integral body.In addition, need to form a large amount of solder joints and increase production cost, limited the stentering ability of manufacturing low profile (that is, minimum size).

Also known in the prior art the combination with graft materials used stent.For example, the U.S. Pat of announcing on November 4th, 1,997 5683448 discloses the combination of interior stent of lumen and graft.This graft is arranged on stent exterior circumferential or stent inside, and is fixed on the stentering metal filament by a plurality of rings.Other existing prior art stent also has independent tinsel wall usually, and it is not suitable for easily graft materials being clamped on the metal filament.

Therefore need a kind of expandable stent, it has improved vertically pliable and tough and radial strength characteristic, and it can adopt cheap equipment automatization to manufacture.The stent that also needs a kind of particular design is used for the bodily injury evil position that between stentering a plurality of tinsel wall part the graft materials of liniment is fed to aiming by graft materials is clamped in.

According to the present invention, a kind of stent that comprises a plurality of single stent assemblies (modules) is disclosed.Each assembly comprises first element and second element and the fixture that first element and second element are linked together, and described first element comprises the first flexible metal silk thread thigh and the second flexible metal silk thread thigh; Second element comprises the 3rd flexible metal silk thread thigh and the 4th flexible metal silk thread thigh.Fixture is included in first adapter that primary importance connects first element and second element; With second adapter that is connected first element and second element at second position place facing to primary importance.First element and second element form the sinusoidal wave form figure of alternative summit and low ebb.Preferably the summit on first element aligns with low ebb on second element, and the low ebb on first element aligns with summit on second element.

First element and second element are movably between general flat position and cylindrical expanding position.In described flat position, first element and second element extend in roughly same plane.At expanding position, first element and second element ringwise, and mutually a cylinder open has been determined in alignment.

Preferably the first, second, third and the 4th tinsel thigh has roughly the same length, and each tinsel thigh becomes semi-cylindrical shape under swelling state.First element and second element can comprise multi-thread burst of isometric flexible metal silk part.Preferably first element and second element respectively comprise 2 (n) strip metal silk thread thigh, and wherein n is the integer more than or equal to 1.

The application also relates to a kind of elongated stent, it comprises a plurality of stent assemblies, and these stent assemblies are gone up and linked together by one of first and second adapters on the assembly being fixed on one of first and second adapters on the adjacent component along a common longitudinal axis.In one embodiment, assembly is fixed together in stentering alternate sides.

The invention also discloses a kind of method that forms the stent assembly, it comprises the following steps:

(a) provide the first flexible metal silk thread thigh and second a flexible metal silk thread thigh that bends to a ring that bends to a ring;

(b) the first and second tinsel thighs are linked together with first adapter in primary importance;

(c) radially directly the first and second tinsel thighs are being linked together with second adapter facing to a second position place of primary importance, wherein first and second adapters are subdivided into the first and second roughly isometric parts with the tinsel thigh; And

(d) formation of first and second parts had the sinusoidal wave form figure that replaces summit and low ebb.

The invention also discloses and form an elongated stentering method, it comprises the following steps:

(a) form a stent assembly according to above-described method;

(b) cross tie part is fixed on the adapter on the stent assembly;

(c) above-mentioned by repeating (a) (b) step form another stent assembly;

(d) with stent assembly alignment adjacent one another are, make that first and second adapters on each assembly vertically align;

(e) cross tie part is fixed on an adapter on another stent assembly;

(f) repeating step (c)-(e) is up to the stent that forms Len req.

Accompanying drawing has been described embodiments of the invention, but it in no case should limit invention thought of the present invention and scope.

Fig. 1 is the part sectioned view of an amplification of vasculature part, shows the stent that is installed in the supravasal the application of spheroid;

Fig. 2 is the three-dimensional view of single stent assembly;

Fig. 3 is a stentering three-dimensional view that comprises the stent assembly of a plurality of interconnection as shown in Figure 2;

Fig. 4 shows the three-dimensional view of making the method for a stent assembly according to the present patent application;

Fig. 5 shows the three-dimensional view of regulating the method step of the stent assembly that is drawn by process shown in Figure 4 from the flat form to the swelling state;

Fig. 6 is the three-dimensional view of stent at its flat form, and this stent comprises the stent assembly of a plurality of interconnection shown in Figure 5;

Fig. 7 is the three-dimensional view of another stent assembly, and this stent assembly has the tinsel wall that closely is spaced apart from each other; And

Fig. 8 is a stentering sectional perspective view that is suitable for keeping graft materials, and this stent comprises a plurality of stent assemblies as shown in Figure 7.

Fig. 1 represents to place the stent 10 of the application who is in swelling state in blood vessel 4 or other body lumen.On an inflatable spheroid 6 that stent 10 is installed in flexible catheter 8, and described stent 10 is configured in the blood vessel 4.As following describe in further detail, after spheroid 6 venting was dwindled and conduit 8 extracted, stent 10 was retained in the appropriate location in the blood vessel 4, radially supports the part of inner tubal wall 9.

Stent 10 generally includes a plurality of stent assemblies 12 that are fixed together (although stent 10 can comprise single component 12) that separate.As shown in Figure 2, each assembly 12 comprises first 14 and second portion 16, and they are connected the opposite side of each assembly 12 by first adapter 18 and second adapter 20.Under swelling state shown in Figure 2, first 14 and second portion 16 are annular, and vertically alignment, allow blood flow through stent 10 inner cylindrical openings 17 thereby define.Preferably first 14, second portion 16 are flexible metal silk element, and these elements have formed sinusoidal figure, comprise a plurality ofly as at description summit 43 described in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 and low ebb 45, and these will be further described below.

Each stent assembly 12 expands with the internal anatomy structure of applying blood vessel wall 9 separately.

Adapter

18,20 provides the vessel wall support of strengthening, and is radiopaque, to be convenient to seeing clearly Chu when the fluorescent inspection.As shown in Figure 1,

components

14 and 16 summit 43 and low ebb 45 stretch the longitudinal axis of the cylinder open 17 of blood flow direction (promptly along) along the alignment of blood vessel 4 directions.Each single component 12 is in the longitudinal direction than weak point and radially have hardness.The combination of a plurality of assemblies 12 makes these design characteristicses that the radial strength of height is provided for stent 10.

As shown in figures 1 and 3, the various assemblies 12 that comprise stent 10 are linked together by cross tie part 22.Cross tie part 22 extends between the

adapter

18,20 of adjacent component 12, and can comprise for example flexible metal silk thread thigh or ring.In described embodiment, cross tie part 22 is alternately rotated in the relative both sides of stent 10, so each is coupled together by an independent cross tie part 22 to adjacent component 12.Vertical pliability that this provides height for stent 10, it is convenient to stent 10 is inserted in the zigzag body lumen.; to those skilled in the art; obviously each connects (promptly cross tie part 22 aligning stents 10 1 sides are extended, and the opposite side of second cross tie part 22 aligning stent 10 extends) to adjacent component 22 another ground by two cross tie parts 22 between adjacent adapter 20 between two adjacent adapters 18.Also can imagine other interchangeable secure bond mode, as long as each is linked together by at least one cross tie part 22 to adjacent component 12.

Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 have illustrated the method step of making a stent assembly 12.The flexible metal silk 24 with the first line thigh 26 and second liner 28 of certain-length is provided.As shown in Figure 4, tinsel 24 is bent up to first wire end 30 and second wire end 32 and is set up in

parallel.Wire end

30,32 is linked together by first adapter 18.Second adapter 20 is directly facing toward the fixed-site of adapter 18 to tinsel 24 then.So

adapter

18,20 is subdivided into first roughly the same on the length 14 and second portion 16 with assembly 12.

Adapter

18 and 20 and

tinsel thigh

26 and 28 preferably make by the rustless steel of medical grade.Optionally, also can adopt other biocompatibility material.

In one embodiment of the invention,

adapter

18,20 can comprise around tinsel 24 and mechanically be clamped and

fixes adapter

18,20 little metal tube in place.Also available other the equality unit that tinsel

thigh

26,28 is fixed together at the opposite side of stent assembly 12 substitutes.For example,

adapter

18,20 can comprise clip, solder joint or analog.

Be not difficult to find out for a person skilled in the art, in an alternative embodiment, assembly 12 can by two isolating each be that the

tinsel thigh

26 and 28 of annular ring is made, this

tinsel thigh

26,28 aligns to be similar to mode shown in Figure 4 in parallel surface, and relative position place diametrically links together with

adapter

18,20, determines roughly

isometric components

14 and 16 thus.

Next step of manufacture process comprises that the

part

14 and 16 with each assembly 12 is configured as the sinusoidal wave form figure, and meanwhile assembly 12 keeps flat pattern.As shown in Figure 4, this can realize by the

crooked tinsel thigh

26,28 that constitutes first 14 and second portion 16 of template (template) that employing has first 36 and a second portion 38.Each template part 36,38 comprises one or more finger pieces 40 that stretch out.In the tinsel BENDING PROCESS, assembly 12 is supported on the straight pin 39 that a plurality of isolated slave plates 41 stretch out.As shown in Figure 4, when template part 36,38 mutually when the other side moves, finger piece 40 passes between the steady pin 39 first 14, second portion 16 is bent to the sinusoidal figure that comprises a plurality of summits 43 and low ebb 45.Pin 39 is used as brake, its determined summit 43 in first 14 and low ebb 45 in second portion 16.Preferably template part 36,38 and sell 39 be so shaped that in first 14 summit 43 that forms aligns with the low ebb 45 that forms in second portion 16, and the low ebb 45 that in stent part 14, forms align with the summit 43 of formation in second portion 16 similarly (Fig. 4).Be not difficult to find out for a person skilled in the art, the summit 43 that forms in the tinsel BENDING PROCESS and the quantity of low ebb 45 can change, and it is not key feature of the present invention (each

tinsel thigh

26,28 of each

part

14,16 has at least one summit 43 or low ebb 45).

Method step shown in Figure 4 produced as shown in Figure 5 have the bending metals silk thread thigh 26 that roughly in parallel plane, extends and a flat stent assembly 12 of 28.For adjusting part 12 from this flat form to swelling state shown in Figure 2, axle (mandrel) 42 with sharp cone distal conical end 44 is inserted into (Fig. 5) between

tinsel thigh

26 and 28, each

part

14,16 is configured as a kind of circular (Fig. 2) that has determined cylinder open 17.

If stent 10 comprises a plurality of assemblies 12, in manufacture process, tinsel cross tie part 22 can be fixed on the

adapter

18,20 on the adjacent component 12, to produce a kind of flat stent 10 as shown in Figure 6.For example, if

adapter

18,20 is made of tubule, then the end of cross tie part 22 can be inserted in the

adapter

18,20 before clamped.Other end of cross tie part 22 can be connected to the

adapter

18,20 on another stent assembly 12 of making according to method step shown in Figure 4 similarly, or the like, to produce a stent 10 that comprises a plurality of assemblies 12.

Be not difficult to find out for a person skilled in the art: if stent 10 comprises a plurality of aligned assemblies 12, then each assembly 12 can adopt axle 42 to be conditioned in a step, from flat form (Fig. 6) to swelling state (Fig. 3).This will produce cylindrical stent 10 as shown in Figure 3, and wherein assembly 12 has a common longitudinal axis.

Above-mentioned can realize automation mechanized operation as Fig. 4 and the described manufacture method in the application of Fig. 5, to reduce production cost.Compare with the traditional stent Machining Technology that adopts expensive cut, etching and welding equipment, this method is convenient to repeat make and is economical.A significant advantage of the application's method is: utilize cheap

equipment stent part

14,16 can be configured as required sinusoidal figure, assembly 12 is in a kind of flat form (Fig. 4) simultaneously.

In another embodiment, stent 10 can comprise the assembly of arranging along intersection branch 12, does not have blood vessel 4 or other body lumen part of a common axle to support.This can be connected to each component by the opposite side at each coupling assembling 12 on the

adapter

18,20 and realize at an easy rate.

Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 represent an alternative embodiment of the invention, and wherein each assembly 12 is made by four independent flexible metal

silk thread thigh

26a, 26b, 28a and 28b according to the method for Fig. 4.For this assembly 12 is adjusted to expanded configuration by its flat configuration, axle 42 can be passed innermost tinsel thigh 26b and 28a.This causes in expanded configuration, and the tinsel thigh 26a of

stent assembly

12 and 26b tight spacing,

tinsel thigh

28a and 28b be tight spacing (Fig. 7) similarly also.A plurality of assembly 12 available interconnects parts 22 that form by this way interconnect, and reach shown in Figure 8 as mentioned above.

Fig. 7 and another embodiment shown in Figure 8 provide chance for clamp graft materials 46 or other biocompatibility substrate or barrier between each is to tinsel

thigh

26a and 26b and 28a and 28b.This graft materials 46 can be coated or dipping as medicine to prevent once more narrow or thrombosis.Like this, in this another embodiment, stent assembly 12 has additional potential and is used for drug delivery system.Available graft materials 46 also can be with acting on prosthesis or a kind of barrier in a kind of blood vessel that blocks lipoma, thrombosis, perforation or whole angiopathy.Graft materials 46 can comprise one or more isolating material bands, and they can be arranged side by side to extend (expressing a part of one graft materials 46 bands in Fig. 8) around stent 10 whole circumference or part circumference between

adapter

18,20.

Be not difficult to find out for a person skilled in the art: in another alternative embodiment, assembly 12 can be made by six, eight or any other identical tinsel thigh of even number substantial distance, so that the chance that further clamps graft materials 46 between them to be provided.

In use, stent 10 can be according to above-mentioned method step manufacturing, and can be adjusted to expanded configuration (Fig. 3) from its flat configuration (Fig. 6).Then stent 10 radially pressurized be clamped on the spheroid 6 that a venting of conduit 8 dwindles and be used to transfer to a target location.By internist's processing and careful guiding, conduit 8 is inserted into the desired location in patient's blood vessel or other body lumen, monitors this process simultaneously on telescreen.For example, conduit can be inserted patient's femoral artery and progressively enter the bone tremulous pulse, rise to aorta and finally enter coronary artery.Because cross tie part 22 allows each stent assembly 12 with respect to adjacent component 12 bendings, so stent 10 has enough vertical pliabilities, is convenient to easily pass zigzag blood vessel and similar tube chamber.

A significant advantage of the present invention is: stent 10 presents fabulous radiation impermeability.Particularly, the adapter the 18, the 20th of each stent assembly 12, radiopaque and be easy in adopting fluoroscopic examination configuration stent process, be seen by the internist.This has guaranteed that the internist can be transported to the target location with stent 10 exactly.

In case stent 10 has been placed to the target location, spheroid 6 is full, causes that stent 10 expands, till it touches blood vessel 9 as shown in Figure 1.Each assembly 12 expands alone and is easy to configuration, and is easy to fit on the specific anatomical structure of target location.For example, can adopt the spheroid 6 that has tapering to cooperate the shape of target blood or other lumen.In case stent 10 has been inflated, spheroid 6 is deflated and shifts out from blood vessel 4 with conduit 8, makes stent 10 be positioned at the appropriate location.At this allocation position, stent 10 is maintained fixed in place, the part of each stent assembly 12 radial support blood vessel 9.The

adapter

18,20 that provides at the radially opposite side of each assembly 12, and the sinusoidal wave form figure of

stent part

14,16 make radial strength and the hardness optimal of stent 10 at allocation position.

If adopt Fig. 7 and another kind of stent 10 shown in Figure 8, can adopt graft materials 46 in the target location, for blood vessel 9 provides further support, and be used as the substrate that transmits medicine as mentioned above.

For a person skilled in the art, above-mentioned disclosed content is conspicuous, implements in the process of the present invention, under the prerequisite that does not break away from invention thought of the present invention or scope, can make various modifications and improvement to the present invention.So scope of the present invention limits according to the determined content of claims subsequently.

Claims

1. stent assembly comprises:

(a) first element, it comprises the first flexible metal silk thread thigh and the second flexible metal silk thread thigh;

(b) second element, it comprises the 3rd flexible metal silk thread thigh and the 4th flexible metal silk thread thigh;

(c) fixture, it links together described first element and described second element, and wherein said fixture comprises:

(I) first adapter, it links together described first element and second element at the primary importance place; And

(II) second adapter, it links together described first element and second element at the second position place facing to primary importance,

The sinusoidal wave form figure that wherein said first element and second element have formed alternative summit and low ebb forms.

2. a kind of stent assembly as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, described summit on described first element aligns with described low ebb on described second element, wherein aligns with described summit on described second element at the described low ebb on described first element.

3. a kind of stent assembly as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that described first element and second element are movably between general plane flat form and cylindrical swelling state.

4. a kind of stent assembly as claimed in claim 3 is characterized in that, at described flat form, described first element and second element extend in roughly same plane.

5. a kind of stent assembly as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, the described first, second, third and the 4th tinsel thigh is roughly isometric.

6. a kind of stent assembly as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, at described swelling state, described first element and second element ringwise, and mutually cylinder open has been determined in alignment.

7. a kind of stent assembly as claimed in claim 6 is characterized in that, at described swelling state, described first, second, third becomes semi-cylindrical shape with each of the 4th tinsel thigh.

8. a kind of stent assembly as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, each of described first adapter and second adapter comprises around the pipe of described first element and second element.

9. a kind of stent assembly as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, described first element and second element comprise multi-thread burst of isometric flexible metal silk part.

10. a kind of stent assembly as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, described first element and second element comprise 2 (n) strip metal silk thread thigh separately, and wherein n is the integer more than or equal to 1.

11. a kind of stent assembly as claimed in claim 10, when n greater than 1 the time, also comprise the graft materials that is clamped between the described tinsel thigh.

12. elongated stent, it comprises a plurality of stent assemblies as claimed in claim 1, wherein said assembly vertically aligns, and links together by following method: one of them of described first and second adapters on one of them of described assembly is fixed on one of them of described first and second adapters on one of them of adjacent described assembly.

13. a kind of stent assembly as claimed in claim 12 is characterized in that described assembly is fixed together in described stentering alternate sides.

14. a method that forms the stent assembly, it comprises the following steps:

(a) provide first flexible metal silk thread thigh that bends to ring and the second flexible metal silk thread thigh that bends to ring;

(b) the described first and second tinsel thighs are linked together with first adapter at the primary importance place;

(c) radially the described first and second tinsel thighs are being linked together with second adapter facing to the second position place of primary importance, wherein said first and second adapters are subdivided into the first and second roughly isometric parts with described line thigh; And

(d) described first and second parts formation had the sinusoidal wave form figure that replaces summit and low ebb.

15. method as claimed in claim 14 is characterized in that, when described first and second portion formed described sinusoidal wave form figure, described these parts were extended in same plane.

16. method as claimed in claim 15 is characterized in that, also comprises step: the annular shape of the described first and second flexible metal silk thread thighs being separated, each formation of described first and second parts has been determined cylinder open.

17. method as claimed in claim 14 is characterized in that, the described first tinsel thigh and the second tinsel thigh are roughly isometric.

18. one kind forms elongated stentering method, it comprises:

(a) method of following claim 14 forms the stent assembly;

(b) cross tie part is fixed on one of them of the described adapter on the described stent assembly;

(c) form another stent assembly by repeating above-mentioned trifle (a) step (b);

(d), make and vertically align at described first and second adapters of described assembly on each with described stent assembly alignment adjacent one another are;

(e) described cross tie part is fixed on one of them of the described adapter on described another stent assembly;

(f) repeating step (c)-(e) is up to the stent that forms Len req.

19. one kind forms elongated stent method, comprising:

(a) method of following claim 14 forms a plurality of stent assemblies;

(b), make that described first and second adapters on each of described assembly vertically align with described stent assembly alignment adjacent one another are;

(c) by following method described stent assembly is fixed together: by being connected on one of them of described adapter on one of them of adjacent described assembly in one of them of the described adapter on one of them of described assembly.

20. a stent assembly comprises:

(a) the first flexible metal silk thread thigh of formation ring;

(b) the second flexible metal silk thread thigh of formation ring;

(c) first adapter that the described first and second flexible metal silk thread thighs is coupled together at the primary importance place; And

(d) second adapter that the described first and second tinsel thighs is linked together at the second position place that faces toward described primary importance in the radial direction;

Wherein said first and second adapters are subdivided into the first and second roughly isometric parts with described tinsel thigh.

21. a kind of stent assembly as claimed in claim 20 is characterized in that each all forms the sinusoidal wave form figure described first and second parts.

22. a kind of stent assembly as claimed in claim 20, it is characterized in that, described assembly is adjustable between flat configuration and expanded configuration, in described flat configuration, the described first and second tinsel thighs extend in the plane of almost parallel, in described expanded configuration,, the described first and second tinsel thighs determined cylinder open thereby being bent.

23. a kind of stent assembly as claimed in claim 20 is characterized in that each of the described first and second tinsel thighs is the endless metal wire ring.

24. stent that comprises at least one stent assembly as claimed in claim 20.