Patent ID: 8157858

Claim:
A stent comprising: a plurality of wavy annular members arranged adjacently to each other in an axial direction thereof, with said adjacent wavy annular members connected with each other, wherein each of said wavy annular members has a plurality of one-end side bent portions each having an apex at one side of said stent in an axial direction thereof and a plurality of other-end side bent portions each having an apex at said other side of said stent in said axial direction thereof; said apex of each of said one-end side bent portions of each wavy annular member penetrates into a space formed between said adjacent other-end side bent portions of one of said adjacent wavy annular members, and said apex of each of said other-end side bent portions of said each wavy annular member penetrates into a space formed between said adjacent one-end side bent portions of said other of said adjacent wavy annular members; and said apex of said one-end side bent portion of each of said wavy annular members and said apex of said other-end side bent portion of said adjacent wavy annular member curve in an approach direction, thus engaging each other; wherein said wavy annular member is composed of a plurality of first stratum portions each of which consists of a straight-line portion extended obliquely at a predetermined angle with respect to an axis of said stent and a plurality of second stratum portions each of which consists of an S-shaped curved portion which connects an upper end of one adjacent first stratum portion and a lower end of an adjacent first stratum portion to each other, said straight-line portion of said wavy annular member being connected to said straight-line portion of said adjacent wavy annular member and not connected to said apex of said adjacent wavy annular member.