A stent (20; 120) for use in a medical procedure, the stent including: a series of proximal apices (22a, 22b; 122a, 122b) disposed at a proximal end of the stent; a series of distal apices (62a, 62b; 162a, 162b) disposed at a distal end of the stent; and at least one strut segment (57, 58, 67, 68; 157, 158) disposed between a proximal apex and a distal apex, wherein the strut segment enables expansion of the stent from a compressed state to a deployed state, wherein the series of proximal apices comprises first proximal apices (22a; 122a) alternating with second proximal apices (22b; 122b) wherein at least one pair of adjacent proximal apices comprise different features; wherein: a) each of the first proximal apices (22a; 122a) includes an end region (30; 130) having a bore (31; 131), and each of the second proximal apices (22b; 122b) comprises at least one barb (42; 142) for engaging tissue, wherein barbs are not disposed on each proximal apex of the stent; and/or b) each of the first proximal apices includes an end region provided with a first bore, and wherein each of the second proximal apices includes a second bore, and at least one of the first proximal apices is simultaneously restrained with an adjacent, second proximal apex during delivery of the stent; and/or c) each of the first proximal apices includes an end region having a first bore, and each of the second proximal apices includes a first region and a second region, wherein at least one integral barb is formed in the first region and a second bore is formed in the second region, wherein barbs are not disposed on each proximal apex of the stent, and wherein each of the second proximal apices includes a recessed portion formed in the second proximal apex at a location distal to the second bore, wherein at least one of the first proximal apices is nested within the recessed portion of an adjacent, second proximal apex during delivery of the stent. a series of proximal apices (22a, 22b; 122a, 122b) disposed at a proximal end of the stent; a series of distal apices (62a, 62b; 162a, 162b) disposed at a distal end of the stent; and at least one strut segment (57, 58, 67, 68; 157, 158) disposed between a proximal apex and a distal apex, wherein the strut segment enables expansion of the stent from a compressed state to a deployed state, wherein the series of proximal apices comprises first proximal apices (22a; 122a) alternating with second proximal apices (22b; 122b) wherein at least one pair of adjacent proximal apices comprise different features; a) each of the first proximal apices (22a; 122a) includes an end region (30; 130) having a bore (31; 131), and each of the second proximal apices (22b; 122b) comprises at least one barb (42; 142) for engaging tissue, wherein barbs are not disposed on each proximal apex of the stent; and/or b) each of the first proximal apices includes an end region provided with a first bore, and wherein each of the second proximal apices includes a second bore, and at least one of the first proximal apices is simultaneously restrained with an adjacent, second proximal apex during delivery of the stent; and/or c) each of the first proximal apices includes an end region having a first bore, and each of the second proximal apices includes a first region and a second region, wherein at least one integral barb is formed in the first region and a second bore is formed in the second region, wherein barbs are not disposed on each proximal apex of the stent, and wherein each of the second proximal apices includes a recessed portion formed in the second proximal apex at a location distal to the second bore, wherein at least one of the first proximal apices is nested within the recessed portion of an adjacent, second proximal apex during delivery of the stent.