Helical stent design

A stent having a longitudinal axis, the stent comprising a helical band element which extends for a plurality of turns about the longitudinal axis, the stent having a plurality of undulating portions forming alternating peaks and troughs, peaks from one turn of the helical band element connected to troughs of an adjacent turn of the helical band element via curvilinear elements, the helical band element undulating about a curvilinear midline.

In combination, a delivery catheter comprising a balloon with a tubular stent disposed thereabout, the stent having a length and comprising:

• at least one continuous elongated helical band element extending substantially over the length of the tubular stent, the helical band element having a plurality of interconnected loop portions, and a curvilinear midline, the midline extending midway between loop portions of the elongated helical band element.

A tubular stent, the tubular stent having a length and a longitudinal axis, the tubular stent comprising a continuous elongated band element spiraling about the longitudinal axis of the stent and extending substantially over the length of the tubular stent, the band element having a width, the width defined by a first curvilinear spiral line and a second curvilinear spiral line, the band element comprising a first plurality of loop end portions and a second plurality of loop end portions, a tip of each of the first plurality of loop end portions being positioned on the first curvilinear spiral line and a tip of each of the second plurality of loop end portions being positioned on the second curvilinear spiral line.