Patent ID: 7625399

Claim:
A method of intraluminally supporting a body vessel comprising the steps of: inserting an implantable frame into the body vessel in a radially compressed state, translating the implantable frame to a point in the body vessel and expanding the implantable frame within the body vessel to an expanded state, the implantable frame in the expanded state defining a lumen extending between a proximal end and a distal end along a longitudinal axis, the implantable frame having a substantially cylindrical exterior surface area with a plurality of openings, the implantable frame moveable between a compressed state and an expanded state, the implantable frame in the expanded state comprising: a plurality of longitudinally-spaced hoop members comprising a first hoop member and a second hoop member axially adjacent to the first hoop member, wherein the first and second hoop members comprise a plurality of interconnected struts and bends arranged in an undulating shape; and a plurality of (n) longitudinal connecting members joining the first hoop member to the second hoop member, the plurality of (n) longitudinal connecting members comprising a first longitudinal connecting member closely-spaced with respect to a separate second longitudinal connecting member such that an angle less than (2π/n) radians is subtended by a hypothetical arc extending circumferentially along the exterior surface area of the implantable frame between a first radius extending from the longitudinal axis to the first longitudinal connecting member and a second radius extending from the longitudinal axis to the second longitudinal connecting member, where (n) is an integer equal to 2 or greater, the first and second longitudinal connecting members being disposed parallel to each other and extending across an entire space separating the first and second hoop members, wherein the first closely spaced longitudinal connecting member has a first end attached to an apex of a bend connecting circumferentially adjacent struts of the first hoop member, and the second closely spaced longitudinal connecting member has a first end attached to the same apex of the same bend connecting circumferentially adjacent struts of the first hoop member.