Patent ID: 7842083

Claim:
An expandable medical device comprising: a plurality of first struts interconnected in a first column forming a first substantially cylindrical tissue support body; a plurality of first flexible connectors forming a second column; a plurality of inflexible elements forming a third column for drug delivery, said third column forming a second substantially cylindrical tissue supporting body, wherein the first and third columns are interconnected by the second column; a plurality of second flexible connectors forming a fourth column; a plurality of second struts interconnected in a fifth column forming a third substantially cylindrical tissue supporting body, wherein the third and fifth columns are interconnected by the fourth column; wherein the inflexible elements remain rigid during expansion of the expandable medical device; wherein the second and fourth columns are substantially more flexible than said first, third or fifth columns; wherein each of the inflexible elements, the first struts, and the second struts contains through-hole openings formed therein, said through-hole openings being non-deforming and containing a beneficial agent; wherein the first and second flexible connectors are devoid of any openings; and wherein the shape of the inflexible elements is different from the shape of the first and second struts.