Stent

A radially expandable stent having first and second ends, the stent having a longitudinal axis, the stent comprising:

• a plurality of spaced band-like elements forming a hollow cylinder, the band-like elements being arranged sequentially along the cylinder and each band-like element having a generally serpentine configuration to provide continuous waves of generally sinusoidal character to each band-like element, the waves being characterized by a plurality of alternating peaks and troughs taking a generally longitudinal direction along the cylinder, each peak and adjacent trough having a midpoint region midway between them, such that the waves in the band-like elements open as the stent is expanded from a first diameter to a second diameter;
• and
• one or more spaced generally longitudinal elements, the longitudinal elements extending from the first end of the stent to the second end of the stent and having alternating peaks and troughs and longitudinal transition regions midway between adjacent alternating peaks and troughs,
• each generally longitudinal element intersecting each band-like element between a peak and an adjacent trough on a band-like element, and between a peak and an adjacent trough of a longitudinal element, adjacent longitudinal elements intersecting each band-like element at least one wavelength apart along the band-like element.

An expandable stent having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis, the stent disposed in a longitudinal direction, the stent formed of a plurality of flexible connected primary cells, each primary cell comprising:

• a first member having first and second ends extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the first member having a serpentine shape and having one peak and one trough, the peak and trough taking a generally longitudinal direction along the stent;
• a second member having first and second ends extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the second member having a serpentine shape and having one peak and one trough, the peak and trough taking a generally longitudinal direction along the stent, the second member situated generally opposite the first member;
• a first link having a first end and a second end, the first link extending in a generally longitudinal direction, the first link having at least one bend therein, the first link disposed between the first end of the first member and the first end of the second member, the first end of the first link attached to the first end of the first member and the second end of the first link attached to the first end of the second member;
• and
• a second link having a first end and a second end, the second link extending in a generally longitudinal direction, the second link having at least one bend therein, the second link disposed between the second end of the first member and the second end of the second member, the first end of the second link attached to second end of the first member and the second end of the second link attached to the second end of the second member, the first and second links being in phase with each other, and wherein the primary cells are arranged in one or more primary bands and adjacent primary bands are interconnected.

A radially expandable stent having first and second ends, the stent having a longitudinal axis, the stent having a first length in an unexpanded state and a second length in an expanded state, the stent comprising:

• a plurality of spaced band-like elements forming a hollow cylinder, the elements being arranged sequentially along the cylinder and each band-like element comprising one or more sub-elements having a generally serpentine configuration to provide continuous waves to each sub-element, the waves being characterized by a plurality of alternating peaks and troughs taking a generally longitudinal direction along the cylinder such that the waves in the sub-elements open as the stent is expanded from a first diameter to a second diameter;
• and
• adjacent band-like elements connected together by one or more links, each link having at least one bend therein and terminating in first and second shanks, the first shank of each link emanating from a region of attachment between a peak and trough on a sub-element of a band-like element and the second shank of each link emanating from a region of attachment between a peak and trough on a sub-element of an adjacent band-like element, the first shanks attached to any given sub-element of a band-like element being spaced substantially one wavelength or more apart along the sub-element of a band-like element and the second shanks attached to any given sub-element of a band-like element being spaced substantially one wavelength or more apart along the sub-element of the band-like element
• whereby the second length of the stent is controlled by the positioning of adjacent first and second shanks along the band-like elements.