A stent for maintaining an open passageway through a body lumen, such as the
prostatic
urethra of a male patient, includes an elongated segment including a flexible polymer
material bridging a plurality of hoops. The elongated segment defines a lumen extending
therethrough and has a distal end. A retention structure may be coupled to the
distal end of the elongated segment to inhibit the distal end from migrating when
the stent is placed within a body of a patient. The flexible polymer material is
disposed between the plurality of hoops, thereby creating hinged members that allow
for the spaces between the hoops to expand and contract longitudinally to accommodate
prostatic swelling when the stent is placed within the prostatic urethra of the
patient. A plurality of ridges is disposed along the elongated segment at locations
where the flexible material circumscribes the hoops, and these inhibit migration
of the stent and facilitate longitudinal expansion by frictionally engaging adjacent
tissue, such as the inner wall of the prostatic urethra.