Intravascular stent with non-parallel slots

A slotted stent in a non-expanded state, comprising:

• a first expansion column including a plurality of parallel first expansion column slots formed of a plurality of first expansion struts, the first expansion column slots having a longitudinal axis;
• a second expansion column including a plurality of parallel second expansion column slots formed of a plurality of second, expansion struts, the second expansion column slots having a longitudinal axis;
• and
• a first connecting strut column formed of a plurality of first connecting struts, the first connecting strut column coupling the first expansion column to the second expansion column, wherein the first expansion column, the second expansion column and the first connecting strut column form a first tubular structure with a longitudinal axis and a plurality of closed geometric cells formed by adjacent first expansion struts, adjacent second expansion struts and adjacent first connecting struts, at least a portion of the plurality of closed geometric cells being asymmetrical closed geometric cells, the longitudinal axis of the first expansion column slots being non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first tubular structure.

A stent assembly, comprising:

• a balloon;
• and
• an unexpanded stent mounted at an exterior of the balloon, the stent including a first expansion column including a plurality of first expansion column slots formed of a plurality of first expansion struts, the first expansion column slots having a longitudinal axis, each of a first expansion strut being coupled to an adjacent first expansion strut by a substantially linear joining strut;
• a second expansion column including a plurality of second expansion column slots formed of a plurality of second expansion struts, the second expansion column slots having a longitudinal axis each of a second expansion strut being coupled to an adjacent second expansion strut by a substantially linear joining strut;
• a first connecting strut column formed of a plurality of first connecting struts, the first connecting strut column coupling the first expansion column to the second expansion column, wherein the first expansion column, the second expansion column and the first connecting strut column form a first tubular structure with a longitudinal axis that is non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first expansion column slots prior to the stent being mounted on the balloon.