Patent ID: 8496699

Claim:
A stent having a tubular structure with a longitudinal axis comprising: a multiplicity of first circumferential bands having loops; a multiplicity of second circumferential bands having loops alternating with said first circumferential bands along the longitudinal axis of the stent, wherein each of said first and second circumferential bands forms a single, continuous, generally sinusoidal pattern around the circumference of the stent; a multiplicity of sets of flexible connectors with each set of flexible connectors connecting adjacent first and second circumferential bands, each set of flexible connectors consisting of a multiplicity of individual flexible connectors, each individual flexible connector comprising a single undulating Z-shaped structure, wherein each of said flexible connectors has at least two generally curved portions connected to at least three generally straight struts, wherein the longitudinal axis of each of said struts lies generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the stent; and wherein the first circumferential bands, second circumferential bands and flexible connectors comprise struts having a width in the circumferential direction, wherein the struts of the first and second circumferential bands are wider than the width of the struts of the flexible connectors.