Patent ID: 8419786

Claim:
A self-expanding stent comprising a lattice, wherein the lattice comprises a first and a second helix forming a hollow tube having a longitudinal axis, wherein the first helix comprises a plurality of undulations, and the second helix comprises a plurality of elongate link connection elements in series with the undulations, wherein the connection elements connect fewer than all of the undulations in adjacent turns of the first helix and the number of undulations between consecutive connection elements in the second helix is 4, and further wherein the connection elements connect peak to valley of adjacent turns of the first helix and are positioned at an angle not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent, wherein the first and second helices proceed circumferentially in opposite directions along the entire longitudinal axis of the hollow tube, and wherein the first helix terminates in a transition zone formed by a plurality of undulations which have a closed loop at one end of the transition zone and connect to the undulations forming the first helix at the other end of the transition zone.