Polymer stent with break-away links for enhanced stent retention

A stent comprising:

• a scaffold including a large diameter configuration and a reduced profile configuration,
• wherein the scaffold in the large diameter configuration comprises:
• a plurality of polymeric structural elements which is configured to be crimped to the reduced profile configuration onto a balloon catheter, wherein the structural elements are plastically deformed when the scaffold is crimped to the reduced profile configuration from the large diameter configuration which results in a gripping force on the balloon catheter by the crimped stent, wherein the gripping force is not sufficient to prevent the stent from shifting position or separating from the catheter prior to delivery,
• wherein the scaffold in the reduced profile configuration is crimped onto the balloon catheter and comprises:
• the plurality of polymeric structural elements and at least one breakable connecting element formed in the reduced profile configuration which connect two of the structural elements, wherein the at least one breakable connecting element facilitates retention of the stent at a reduced diameter of the reduced profile configuration so that the stent does not shift position or separate from the catheter prior to delivery, wherein upon expansion of the stent the at least one breakable connecting element breaks to allow expansion of the stent due to a radially outward force on the stent.