Flat wire stent

1. An improved stent comprising at least one limb having a cross sectional profile in which at least one segment is flat and straight, wherein each limb is comprised of two curved portions having opposite directions of curvature, an intermediate straight, flat mid-portion connecting the two curved portions and a short, straight segment at each end,

wherein the intermediate straight, flat mid-portion is angled with respect to the short, straight segments at each end in an expanded state,

wherein the short, straight segments at each end of the limb are substantially identical to one another,

and wherein the short, straight segments at each end of the limb are joined to a short, straight segment of an adjacent limb to form a point of attachment, wherein the short, straight segments of adjacent limbs meeting at the point of attachment are substantially parallel to one another in the expanded state.

2. The improved stent according to claim 1 wherein the stent has been provided with at least one strut in order to augment expansion wherein the strut has been effectively attached at the point of attachment between the adjacent limbs.

3. The improved stent according to claim 1 wherein the stent has been provided with a multiplicity of struts to supplement each of the limbs which have been effectively attached at both ends to the points of attachment between adjacent limbs.

4. The improved stent according to claim 1 comprising a multiplicity of identical limbs which have been joined at each of the short, straight segments to the short segments of the adjacent limbs in order to form a cylindrical structure.

5. The improved stent according to claim 1 wherein the stent is comprised of a multiplicity of wires which have been bent back and forth in a sinusoid wave pattern to form a series of limb elements down the length of the stent, each of which limb elements has been joined at the point of the short, straight segments to the short, straight segments of adjacent limb elements in order to form a cylindrical structure.

6. The improved stent according to claim 5 wherein the overall length of the stent is a multiple of the overall diameter of the cylindrical structure formed by joining the individual elements.

7. An improved stent comprising at least one limb having a cross sectional profile in which at least one segment is flat and straight, wherein each limb is comprised of two curved portions having opposite directions of curvature, an intermediate straight, flat mid-portion connecting the two curved portions and a short, straight segment at each end,

wherein the end of each limb has been provided with a barb in order to provide a means of attachment of the stent to the inside of the corporeal lumen,

wherein the short, straight segments at each end of the limb are substantially identical to one another,

and wherein the short, straight segments at each end of the limb are joined to a short, straight segment of an adjacent limb to form a point of attachment, wherein the short, straight segments of adjacent limbs meeting at the point of attachment are substantially parallel to one another in an expanded state.

8. An improved stent comprising at least one limb having a cross sectional profile in which at least one segment is flat and straight, wherein each limb is comprised of two curved portions having opposite directions of curvature, an intermediate straight, flat mid-portion connecting the two curved portions and a short, straight segment at each end,

wherein the end of each limb has been provided with a series of serrations in order to provide a means of attachment of the stent to the inside of the corporeal lumen,

wherein the short, straight segments at each end of the limb are substantially identical to one another,

and wherein the short, straight segments at each end of the limb are joined to a short, straight segment of an adjacent limb to form a point of attachment, wherein the short, straight segments of adjacent limbs meeting at the point of attachment are substantially parallel to one another in an expanded state.

9. An improved stent comprising at least one limb having a cross sectional profile in which at least one segment is flat and straight, wherein each limb is comprised of two curved portions having opposite directions of curvature, an intermediate straight, flat mid-portion connecting the two curved portions and a short, straight segment at each end,

wherein the end of at least one limb comprising the stent has been provided with a hole as an anchor point for the attachment of a delivery system release mechanism,

wherein the short, straight segments at each end of the limb are substantially identical to one another,

and wherein the short, straight segments at each end of the limb are joined to a short, straight segment of an adjacent limb to form a point of attachment, wherein the short, straight segments of adjacent limbs meeting at the point of attachment are substantially parallel to one another in an expanded state.

10. A stent comprising portions formed by limbs, each limb having a cross sectional profile in which at least one segment is flat and straight, wherein each limb is comprised of two curved portions having opposite directions of curvature, an intermediate straight, flat mid-portion connecting the two curved portions and a short, straight segment at each end,

wherein the intermediate straight, flat mid-portion is angled with respect to the short, straight segments at each end in an expanded state,

wherein the short, straight segments at each end of the limb are substantially identical to one another,

and wherein the short, straight segments at each end of the limb are joined to a short, straight segment of an adjacent limb to form a point of attachment,

wherein the short, straight segments of adjacent limbs meeting at the point of attachment are substantially parallel to one another in an expanded state.