Patent ID: 6896697

Claim:
An intravascular stent for use in a body lumen, comprising: a plurality of cylindrical rings including a proximal ring, at least one central ring and a distal ring, each cylindrical ring having a strut pattern, a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end and the distal end defining a ring length, the cylindrical rings being coaxially aligned along a common longitudinal axis forming the stent and radially expandable with a first delivery diameter and a second implanted diameter; and a plurality of links coupling adjacent cylindrical rings; wherein each strut pattern of the cylindrical rings including an undulating pattern of U-shaped portions forming peaks at the proximal end of the cylindrical ring and valleys at the distal end of the cylindrical ring with struts extending therebetween; the adjacent valleys of the proximal ring alternating between a first, proximal position along the longitudinal axis of the stent and a second, distal position along the longitudinal axis of the stent; the adjacent peaks of the at least one central ring alternating between a first, proximal position along the longitudinal axis of the stent and a second, distal position along the longitudinal axis of the stent and adjacent valleys of the at least one central ring alternating between a first, proximal position along the longitudinal axis of the stent and a second, distal position along the longitudinal axis of the stent; the adjacent peaks of the distal ring alternating between a first, proximal position along the longitudinal axis of the stent and a second, distal position along the longitudinal axis of the stent; the peaks of each cylindrical ring being circumferentially aligned with the valleys of the adjacent cylindrical ring; and wherein the links couple alternating peaks on one cylindrical ring to circumferentially aligned valleys on the proximally adjacent cylindrical ring.