Patent ID: 6846323

Claim:
An intravascular stent for use in a body lumen, comprising: a plurality of cylindrical rings, each cylindrical ring having a strut pattern, a first, proximal end and a second, distal end, the first, proximal end and the second, distal end defining a ring length, the cylindrical rings being aligned along a common longitudinal axis of the stent and radially expandable with a first delivery diameter and a second implanted diameter; and at least one link coupling each pair of adjacent cylindrical rings; wherein the strut pattern of each cylindrical ring includes an undulating pattern of U shaped portions forming peaks at the first, proximal end of the cylindrical ring and valleys at the second, distal end of the cylindrical ring with struts extending therebetween; adjacent cylindrical rings alternating between a first, longer ring length and a second, shorter ring length, the cylindrical rings of the first, longer ring length having fewer peaks and valleys than the cylindrical rings of the second, shorter ring length; the cylindrical rings of the first, longer ring length being in phase with each other; the cylindrical rings of the second, shorter ring length being in phase with each other, and each cylindrical ring of the second, shorter ring length having a uniform ring length; at least one peak on each of the cylindrical rings of the second, shorter ring length is coupled to a circumferentially aligned peak on the distally adjacent cylindrical ring of the first, longer ring length by a link; and wherein at least one valley on the cylindrical rings of the first, longer ring length is coupled to a circumferentially aligned valley on the distally adjacent cylindrical ring of the second, shorter ring length by a link.