A stent having a generally tubular body formed of ring units formed of a plurality of cells each and expandable in the radial direction, wherein each ring unit is constituted of cells connected to one another above and below, arranged to surround the center line of the stent, the ring units are arranged in the axial direction of the stent, and are connected with connector portions, each connector portion is formed of curved portions each having an arch and a generally linear portion continued thereto, 3 to 8 cells are arranged in the axial direction per 10 mm of the length of the stent, and the ratio of the length of the cell in the axial direction and the length of the connector portion is determined such that on the basis that when the length of the cell is 100, that of the connector portion 50 to 100 , thereby securing flexibility and radial sustaining force.
1. A stent with high bending flexibility, which has a generally tubular body formed of a plurality of ring units, and said tubular body is expandable in the radial direction of said tubular body from inside of said tubular body,
each of the plurality of ring units being formed of a plurality of cells connected to one another circumferentially around a central axis (C 1 ) of the stent forming said tubular body,
said ring units being arranged in an axial direction along the central axis (C 1 ) of the stent forming said tubular body such that adjacent ring units are connected to each other with connector portions,
(i) each of said connector portions being generally S-shaped and formed of two arched portions, each arched portion having an arch of curvature radius R, and a generally linear portion therebetween, wherein each connector portion is connected to at least one cell of one of the plurality of ring units and at least one cell of an adjacent ring unit,
(ii) wherein each of said cells has a first configuration comprising a bendable and expandable curved portion having acute angle X, a first strut comprising a generally linear portion having an axially disposed position that is substantially parallel to the central axis (C 1 ) of the tubular bodied stent, and a second strut comprising at least one curved line portion and at least one generally linear portion,
wherein the generally linear portion of the first strut is adjacent and continued with the bendable and expandable curved portion and the generally linear portion of the second strut is adjacent to and continued with the bendable and expandable curved portion,
wherein a longitudinal axis of the first strut and a longitudinal axis of the generally linear portion of the second strut intersect to form the acute angle X of said bendable and expandable curved portion,
(iii) wherein in the first configuration, the cells and the connector portions are so disposed such that there is at least one of a first space between each first strut and each adjacent second strut (Si), a second space between each bendable and expandable curved portion and each adjacent arched portion of each connector portion (Sii), and a third space between adjacent arched portions of adjacent connector portions (Siii),
(iv) wherein when compression of the stent in the radial direction is made, each of said cells has a compressed configuration, wherein the first strut maintains the axially disposed position and the second strut bends toward said first strut,
wherein in the compressed configuration at least part of adjacent first and second struts make contact and at least part of adjacent connector portions make contact,
wherein said cells are arranged in the axial direction of the stent such that 3 to 8 cells are disposed per 10 mm of the length of said stent,
wherein the ratio of the length of each cell in the axial direction of the stent and the length of each connector portion in the axial direction of the stent is 50 to 100, and
wherein said stent with said cells in said compressed configuration is configured to be mounted on a balloon and transported in a blood vessel to a diseased part to be treated.
2. The stent as recited in claim 1 , wherein said cells have a thickness of 0.06 mm to 0.12 mm and a width of 0.08 mm to 0.15 mm and said connector portions have a thickness of 0.06 to 0.12 mm and a width of 0.04 mm to 0.10 mm.
3. A stent with high radial force and bending flexibility, which has a generally tubular body formed of a plurality of ring units each formed of a plurality of ring units, and said tubular body is expandable in the radial direction of said tubular body from inside of said tubular body,
each of the plurality of ring units being formed of a plurality of cells connected to one another circumferentially around a central axis (C 1 ) of the stent forming said tubular body,
said ring units being arranged in an axial direction along the central axis (C 1 ) of the stent forming said tubular body such that adjacent ring units are connected to each other with connector portions,
(i) each of said connector portions being generally S-shaped and formed of two arched portions, each arched portion having an arch of curvature radius R, and a generally linear portion therebetween, wherein each connector portion is connected to at least one cell of one of the plurality of ring units and at least one cell of an adjacent ring unit,
(ii) wherein each of said cells has a first configuration comprising a bendable and expandable curved portion having acute angle X, a first strut comprising a generally linear portion having an axially disposed position that is substantially parallel to the central axis (C 1 ) of the tubular bodied stent, and a second strut comprising at least one curved line portion and at least one generally linear portion,
wherein the generally linear portion of the first strut is adjacent and continued with the bendable and expandable curved portion and the generally linear portion of the second strut is adjacent to and continued with the bendable and expandable curved portion,
wherein a longitudinal axis of the first strut and a longitudinal axis of the generally linear portion of the second strut intersect to form the acute angle X of said bendable and expandable curved portion,
(iii) wherein in the first configuration, the cells and the connector portions are so disposed such that there is at least one of a first space between each first strut and each adjacent second strut (Si), a second space between each bendable and expandable curved portion and each adjacent arched portion of each connector portion (Sii), and a third space between adjacent arched portions of adjacent connector portions (Siii),
(iv) wherein when compression of the stent in the radial direction is made, each of said cells has a compressed configuration, wherein the first strut maintains the axially disposed position and the second strut bends toward said first strut,
wherein, in the compressed configuration at least part of adjacent first and second struts make contact, and at least part of adjacent connector portions make contact,
wherein when the stent is expanded until said tubular body has a diameter of 2.5 mm, the first strut and the second strut form an angle of at least 30° after expansion,
wherein said cells are arranged circumferentially, 6 to 12 cells are arranged when the tubular body has a diameter of 3.0 mm or more after expansion of the stent,
wherein said cells are arranged in the axial direction of the stent such that 3 to 8 cells are disposed per 10 mm of the length of said stent,
wherein the ratio of the length of each cell in the axial direction of the stent and the length of each connector portion in the axial direction of the stent is 50 to 100, and
wherein said stent with said cells in said compressed configuration is configured to be mounted on a balloon and transported in a blood vessel to a diseased part to be treated.
4. The stent as recited in claim 3 , wherein said cells have a thickness of 0.06 mm to 0.12 mm and a width of 0.08 mm to 0.15 mm and said connector portions have a thickness of 0.06 to 0.12 mm and a width of 0.04 mm to 0.10 mm.