Non-woven endoprosthesis

Claim 1

A non-woven, generally tubular endoprosthesis for supporting living tissue, comprising: (a) a wound, non-woven generally tubular stiff strand network; (b) said stiff strand network includes a plurality of generally tubular layers of wire, one said layer overlying another said layer forming a generally tubular helically shaped member, said tubular member having an axial length and terminating at opposite ends; (c) a contact interface between said generally tubular layers, said contact interface including a plurality of locations at which a strand portion of said one layer intersects and contacts a strand portion of said another layer, said contact interface being points for bonding; (d) means for bonding said one layer to said other layer at said contact interface in order to form a non-woven, generally tubular endoprosthesis having attachment sites at said bonding points; and (e) said tubular layers of wire at the ends being cropped closely to said bonding points; and wherein the endoprosthesis has a diameter that is variable between a compressed percutaneous transluminally transportable diameter and an expanded, implanted diameter, said expanded diameter being for supporting an inside surface of a living tissue.