Intraluminal stent and graft

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an intraluminal stent includes a predetermined length of wire having a sinuous or zig-zag configuration and defining a continuous helix with a plurality of connected spirals or hoops.
A plurality of loop members connect adjacent apices of adjacent helix hoops.
The stent is compressible and self-expandable substantially to the configuration prior to compression.
In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, an intraluminal stent includes the continuous helix and the plurality of loop members described above.
It also includes a prosthetic graft disposed longitudinally of the wire helix within its central opening (or around the wire helix).
One or more of the loop members secures the graft to the wire helix.
This graft is a flexible, tubular shell which allows the wire helix to contract and recoil.