Patent ID: 8043358

Claim:
A stent having a proximal end and a distal end, the stent comprising: a tubular body defined by a plurality of serpentine bands and connectors, adjacent serpentine bands connected by at least one connector; each serpentine band comprising a plurality of interconnected proximal turns and distal turns, each proximal turn being longitudinally and circumferentially offset from each distal turn, every proximal turn connected to a first distal turn by a first strut and to a second distal turn by a second strut, each first strut having a shape that is different than that of each second strut, each first strut and each second strut having a peak and a valley, the peak of each strut being closer to the connected distal turn than to the connected proximal turn, the valley of each strut being closer to the connected proximal turn than to the connected distal turn, all peaks being substantially aligned along a first stent circumference, all valleys being substantially aligned along a second stent circumference, the first stent circumference offset from the second stent circumference; wherein a connector attaches at one end to a distal turn of one serpentine band and at another end to a location on a second strut of an adjacent serpentine band, said location spaced away from a turn.