Patent ID: 8449596

Claim:
A stent comprising: a plurality of wavy annular members arranged axially adjacent to each other in an axial direction, with the axially adjacent wavy annular members connected to each other; each of the wavy annular members has a plurality of one-end side bent portions each having an apex at one side of the stent in the axial direction and a plurality of other-end side bent portions each having an apex at the other side of the stent in the axial direction; the apex of each of at least two of the one-end side bent portions of each wavy annular member penetrating into a respective space existing between two circumferentially adjacent other-end side bent portions of the axially adjacent wavy annular member, and the apex of each of at least two of the other-end side bent portions of each wavy annular member penetrating into a respective space existing between two circumferentially adjacent one-end side bent portions of the axially adjacent wavy annular member; the apex of each of the two one-end side bent portions of each wavy annular member and the apex of a respective one of the two circumferentially adjacent other-end side bent portions of the axially adjacent wavy annular member curving towards one another and engaging each other in an engaging manner; the apex of at least one of the one-end side bent portions of each wavy annular member being axially shorter than the apex of others of the one-end side bent portions of the wavy annular member, and the apex of at least one of the other-end side bent portions of each wavy annular member being axially shorter than the apex of others of the other-end side bent portions of the wavy annular member; the axially shorter apex of the at least one of the one-end side bent portions of each wavy annular member being circumferentially adjacent the axially shorter apex of the at least one of the other-end side bent portions of the axially adjacent wavy annular member; and the axially shorter apex of the at least one of the one-end side bent portions of each wavy annular member and the circumferentially adjacent axially shorter apex of the at least one of the other-end side bent portions of the axially adjacent wavy annular member not engaging each other in said engaging manner.