Patent ID: 8496698

Claim:
An endoprosthesis for delivery in a body lumen, the endoprosthesis comprising: at least one annular ring having a first annular longitudinal side, a second annular longitudinal side each defining opposite longitudinal ends of the at least one annular ring, and a longitudinal axis that extends between the first and second longitudinal sides, the at least one annular ring crimped into a delivery configuration and configured to be expanded into a deployed configuration to provide scaffolding support to a lumen, the at least one annular ring comprising: a plurality of circumferentially-adjacent bar arms comprising at least a first bar arm and a circumferentially-adjacent second bar arm, each of the first and second bar arms having a first end adjacent the first longitudinal side and a second end adjacent the second longitudinal side, the second ends being circumferentially offset from the first ends such that each bar arm is generally obliquely oriented relative to the longitudinal axis; and at least one multi-stage crest element connecting the first end of the first bar arm to the first end of the second bar arm, the at least one multi-stage crest element having a plurality of link arms connected to one another with a plurality of elbows, the plurality of link arms comprising a first link arm and a second link arm, each of the first and second link arms having a first end and a second end, the second ends being circumferentially offset from the first ends such that each link arm is generally obliquely oriented relative to the longitudinal axis, the plurality of elbows including a first transition elbow connecting the first end of the first link arm to the first end of the first bar arm and a second transition elbow connecting the first end of the second link arm to the first end of the second bar arm, wherein the first transition elbow, the first link arm and the first bar arm are completely disposed completely between and space completely from the first longitudinal side and the second longitudinal side of the at least one annular ring, and wherein the arrangement and configuration of the plurality of link arms, the plurality of elbows, and the first and second bar arms distributing strains experienced by the at least one annular ring during crimping and expansion to limit fatigue and damage from the strains.