Stent with improved deployment characteristics

A knitted stent extending along a central longitudinal axis, comprising:

• a filament forming a plurality of cells arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows;
• wherein the plurality of rows extends parallel to the central longitudinal axis from a first end of the knitted stent to a second end of the knitted stent;
• wherein the plurality of columns extends circumferentially around the central longitudinal axis;
• wherein the plurality of rows includes a plurality of loop rows and a plurality of rung rows interposed between adjacent loop rows;
• wherein each cell within the plurality of loop rows includes a circumferential loop element connected to two longitudinally oriented connector elements;
• wherein the plurality of rung rows includes a plurality of circumferential rung elements connected to adjacent loop rows;
• wherein a majority of the plurality of loop rows includes open cells having an open end disposed between the two longitudinally oriented connector elements and opposite the circumferential loop element;
• wherein at least one of the plurality of loop rows includes a first plurality of closed cells having a closed end formed by crossing the two longitudinally oriented connector elements at a position opposite the circumferential loop element, the first plurality of closed cells being disposed adjacent the first end of the knitted stent, wherein the first plurality of closed cells are each in a circumferential column with a plurality of open cells;
• wherein at least one of the plurality of loop rows includes a second plurality of closed cells having a closed end formed by crossing the two longitudinally oriented connector elements at a position opposite the circumferential loop element, the second plurality of closed cells being disposed adjacent the second end of the knitted stent, wherein the second plurality of closed cells are each in a circumferential column with a plurality of open cells;
• wherein the first plurality of closed cells is longitudinally spaced apart from the second plurality of closed cells.

A knitted stent extending along a central longitudinal axis, comprising:

• a filament forming a plurality of cells arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows;
• wherein the plurality of rows extends parallel to the central longitudinal axis from a first end of the knitted stent to a second end of the knitted stent;
• wherein the plurality of columns extends circumferentially around the central longitudinal axis;
• wherein the plurality of rows includes a plurality of loop rows and a plurality of rung rows interposed between adjacent loop rows;
• wherein each cell within the plurality of loop rows includes a circumferential loop element connected to two longitudinally oriented connector elements;
• wherein the plurality of rung rows includes a plurality of circumferential rung elements connected to adjacent loop rows;
• wherein a majority of the plurality of loop rows includes open cells having an open end disposed between the two longitudinally oriented connector elements and opposite the circumferential loop element;
• wherein the plurality of loop rows includes at least a first loop row and a second loop row circumferentially spaced apart from the first loop row;
• wherein the first loop row includes a first portion disposed proximate the first end of the knitted stent and a second portion disposed proximate the second end of the knitted stent, wherein the second portion of the first loop row is spaced apart longitudinally from the first portion of the first loop row;
• wherein the first portion of the first loop row includes a first plurality of closed cells having a closed end formed by crossing the two longitudinally oriented connector elements at a position opposite the circumferential loop element, and the second portion of the first loop row includes a second plurality of closed cells having a closed end formed by crossing the two longitudinally oriented connector elements at a position opposite the circumferential loop element, wherein the first plurality of closed cells and the second plurality of closed cells are each in a circumferential column with a plurality of open cells;
• wherein the second loop row includes a first portion disposed proximate the first end of the knitted stent and a second portion disposed proximate the second end of the knitted stent, wherein the second portion of the second loop row is spaced apart longitudinally from the first portion of the second loop row;
• wherein the first portion of the second loop row includes a first plurality of closed cells having a closed end formed by crossing the two longitudinally oriented connector elements at a position opposite the circumferential loop element, and the second portion of the second loop row includes a second plurality of closed cells having a closed end formed by crossing the two longitudinally oriented connector elements at a position opposite the circumferential loop element.