ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 9 -- United States Patent no. 12,268,618, issued on April 8.
"Stent" was invented by Eric K. Mangiardi (Charlotte, N.C.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A bioabsorable stent is disclosed. The stent is made of a polymer and/or non-polymer material and has an elongated body having a proximate end, a distal end, and at least one open channel formed on the exterior surface of the elongated body to provide fluid communication between the proximal end and the distal end. Also disclosed is a bioabsorable stent having an elongated center rod having a proximate end and a distal end and a plurality of leaflets extending outward from the center rod and forming channels between two n...