Patent ID: 8372137
Filing Date: 2013-02-12
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A flexible intravascular stent for use in a body lumen, comprising: a plurality of cylindrical rings aligned along a common longitudinal axis and interconnected to form the stent, each cylindrical ring having a first delivery diameter and a second implanted diameter; each cylindrical ring having a plurality of first peaks and second peaks, each of the peaks having a height, the second peaks being shorter than the first peaks; at least one undulating link attaching each cylindrical ring to an adjacent cylindrical ring, the undulating links having a curved portion extending transverse to the stent longitudinal axis toward the second peak, the height of the second peak being sized so that as the stent is compressed to the first delivery diameter, the curved portion is positioned proximal to the second peak; wherein a plurality of inverted cylindrical end rings are coupled at least in part to a plurality of adjacent cylindrical rings on at least one of a proximal end and a distal end of the stent, at least one inverted cylindrical end ring being a mirror image of at least one corresponding adjacent cylindrical ring such that a symmetrical configuration is present on at least one of the proximal end and the distal end of the stent; wherein the symmetrical configuration is present on at least one of the proximal end and the distal end of the stent when the first peaks of the inverted cylindrical end rings and the adjacent cylindrical rings are coupled at least in part to each other in the form of a mirror image.