A slide-and-lock stent, comprising: a tubular member that is expandable from a first diameter to a second diameter; the tubular member comprising a first circumferential section and a second circumferential section with said circumferential sections being longitudinally arranged; a flexible linkage section connecting said circumferential sections; each of the circumferential sections comprising a first slide-and-lock element (614mf1). a second slide-and-lock element (614mf2), and a third slide-and-lock element (614mf3) with the corresponding slide-and-lock elements of each circumferential section being connected by a slidable articulating mechanism (616mf1, 616mf2, 616mf3). each of the first, second, and third slide-and-lock elements (614mf1, 614mf2, 614mf3) comprising: a male portion having a spaced pair of ribs (636ml2) terminating in a single rib (636ml1); a female portion with a spaced pair of ribs (626f1), each of the spaced pair of ribs (626f1) of the female portion comprising a slot (654f1) therein and a cavity (674f1) in which a plurality of radially deflectable elements (632f1) extend; the single rib (636ml1) of the male portion extending into a gap between the spaced pair of ribs (626f1) of the female portion when the stent is in a collapsed state; the single rib (636ml1) of the male portion comprising a pair of outwardly extending wings (642m21e) that extend into the slot (654f1) of each pair of spaced ribs (626f1) of the female portion when the stent is in a collapsed state; the single rib (636ml1) of the male portion engaging the deflectable elements (632f1) of the female portion to permit one-way sliding between the corresponding slide-and-lock elements during expansion of the stent. a tubular member that is expandable from a first diameter to a second diameter; the tubular member comprising a first circumferential section and a second circumferential section with said circumferential sections being longitudinally arranged; a flexible linkage section connecting said circumferential sections; each of the circumferential sections comprising a first slide-and-lock element (614mf1). a second slide-and-lock element (614mf2), and a third slide-and-lock element (614mf3) with the corresponding slide-and-lock elements of each circumferential section being connected by a slidable articulating mechanism (616mf1, 616mf2, 616mf3). each of the first, second, and third slide-and-lock elements (614mf1, 614mf2, 614mf3) comprising: a male portion having a spaced pair of ribs (636ml2) terminating in a single rib (636ml1); a female portion with a spaced pair of ribs (626f1), each of the spaced pair of ribs (626f1) of the female portion comprising a slot (654f1) therein and a cavity (674f1) in which a plurality of radially deflectable elements (632f1) extend; the single rib (636ml1) of the male portion extending into a gap between the spaced pair of ribs (626f1) of the female portion when the stent is in a collapsed state; the single rib (636ml1) of the male portion comprising a pair of outwardly extending wings (642m21e) that extend into the slot (654f1) of each pair of spaced ribs (626f1) of the female portion when the stent is in a collapsed state; the single rib (636ml1) of the male portion engaging the deflectable elements (632f1) of the female portion to permit one-way sliding between the corresponding slide-and-lock elements during expansion of the stent.