Patent ID: 7582111

Claim:
A stent comprising a tubular member including first and second ends defining a longitudinal axis therebetween and a plurality of cells disposed between the first and second ends, the tubular member being expandable from a contracted condition to an intermediate flared condition and to an enlarged condition, the stent comprising: a first end portion that flares outwardly when the stent is expanded from the contracted condition to the enlarged condition, the first end portion comprising first and second bands including alternating axial segments and curved segments defining a serpentine pattern and coupled together such that, upon expansion from the contracted condition to the intermediate flared condition, first axial segments of the first band are directed from an orientation substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis to a generally radially outward orientation and, upon expansion to the enlarged condition, the first axial segments are directed to a substantially enclosed generally circumferential orientation and second axial segments of the second band are directed to a generally transverse orientation; and a second portion adjacent the first portion, the second portion connected to the first end portion by a plurality of connectors, the connectors being relatively flexible compared to the axial segments and curved segments of the first end portion for accommodating the first end portion flaring outwardly.