Stent having adjacent elements connected by narrow flexible webs

An endoprosthesis having a length, a radius, and a circumference, the endoprosthesis comprising:

• a stent element having multiple apices;
• a flexible connecting element that attaches between at least two apices;
• wherein the flexible connecting element has a section modulus (Mr) in a direction aligned with the radius of the endoprosthesis and a section modulus (Mp) aligned in a direction perpendicular to Mr of the endoprosthesis;
• and
• wherein Mr/Mp>0.2.

An endoprosthesis having a length, a radius, and a circumference, the endoprosthesis comprising;

• a stent with multiple apices;
• at least two flexible connecting elements that attaches multiple apices across a space between adjacent stent elements;
• wherein the flexible connecting elements form a partial boundary to an opening;
• and
• wherein the opening has five concave shaped edges.

An endoprosthesis having a length, a radius, and a circumference, the endoprosthesis comprising;

• a stent with multiple apices;
• at least one flexible connecting element that attaches multiple apices across a space between adjacent stent elements;
• and
• wherein the flexible connecting elements have a cross section that is non-rectangular.

An endoprosthesis having a length, a radius, and a circumference, the endoprosthesis comprising;

• a stent with multiple apices;
• at least one flexible connecting element that connects between an apex of one winding to portions of the stent on either side of an apex on an adjacent winding;
• and
• wherein the flexible connecting element has an elastic portion and a non-elastic portion.

An endoprosthesis having a length, a radius, and a circumference, the endoprosthesis comprising;

• a stent with multiple apices;
• at least two flexible connecting elements that attaches multiple apices across a space between adjacent stent elements;
• and
• wherein the flexible connecting elements have a web reinforcement.

An endoprosthesis having a length, a radius, and a circumference, the endoprosthesis comprising;

• a stent with multiple apices;
• at least one flexible connecting element that attach multiple apices across a space between adjacent stent elements;
• wherein the flexible connecting element has two edges;
• and
• wherein one edge has two convex shapes and one concave shape and the opposite edge has two concave shapes and one convex shape.

A method of manufacturing an endoprosthesis comprising:

• providing a stent with multiple apices;
• wrapping a stent with a cover;
• slitting the cover;
• and
• heating the cover at least to a temperature sufficient to allow the cover to retract from the slits creating linkages that have a Mr/Mp ratio greater than 0.2.