Patent ID: 8075609

Claim:
An expandable stent comprising: a proximal end and a distal end in communication with one another, a tubular wall disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, the tubular wall having a longitudinal axis and a porous surface defined by a plurality of interconnected struts, the plurality of interconnected struts defining a plurality of circumferentially disposed rings of a repeating pattern, adjacent circumferentially disposed rings of the repeating pattern comprising a gradient of strut thickness when measured along the outer surface of the tubular wall, the plurality of interconnected struts also defining a plurality of longitudinal struts disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent, each of the longitudinal struts comprising curved flexure structure for substantially complementary extension and compression of a diametrically opposed pair of the longitudinal struts upon flexure of the stent, the curved flexure structure disposed between the adjacent circumferentially disposed rings having substantially no gradient of strut thickness, each curved flexure structure comprising at least one curved portion disposed between two straight portions, both of which are substantially co-linear and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the stent being expandable from a first, contracted position to a second, expanded position upon the application of a radially outward force on the stent.