Uncaging stent

An endoluminal prosthesis comprising:

• a scaffold patterned from a tubular body comprising a non-degradable material formed into a plurality of circumferential rings, the scaffold being configured to expand from a crimped configuration to an expanded configuration;
• wherein at least some of the plurality of circumferential rings comprise structural elements comprising struts joined by crowns, the structural elements comprising abluminal surfaces, luminal surfaces, and two side surfaces;
• wherein at least some of the plurality of circumferential rings are axially joined to adjacent circumferential rings;
• wherein at least some of the plurality of circumferential rings comprise at least one separation region comprising a pre-formed break in at least some circumferential rings, the preformed break providing a first segment having a first non-degradable free end on one side of the break in the circumferential ring and a second segment having a second non-degradable free end on the other side of the break in the same circumferential ring, wherein prior to expansion the second free end fits into the first free end when the scaffold is in a crimped configuration;
• the first and second free ends lying adjacent to each other along side surfaces of the first and second free ends when the scaffold is in its crimped configuration;
• and
• wherein the separation region is held together during expansion in a physiologic environment and is configured to separate at the break to form at least one discontinuity in the plurality of circumferential rings after expansion of the scaffold in the physiologic environment, wherein the at least one discontinuity is configured to allow the scaffold to further expand after inward recoil from an initial expansion in a physiologic environment, and wherein the at least one discontinuity allows a movement of the first and second free ends relative to each other in an axial direction, a radial direction, a circumferential direction, or combinations thereof.