Patent ID: 6887264

Claim:
An expandable stent comprising: a proximal end and a distal end in communication with one another, a tubular wall laser cut from a tubular starting material and 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 intersecting members comprising (i) a series of longitudinal struts disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent, and (ii) a series of undulating S-shaped circumferential struts, each of the longitudinal struts comprising flexure means for substantially complementary extension and compression of a diametrically opposed pair of the longitudinal struts upon flexure of the stent, 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, at least one flexure means comprising an S-shaped portion having a start point and an end point in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the corresponding longitudinal strut, said S-shaped portion being separated from adjacent circumferential struts by first and second connecting struts, and wherein (i) the S-shaped portion of each longitudinal strut and (ii) the S-shape of each circumferential strut are both configured to remain S-shaped in both (i) the contracted position of the stent and (ii) in the expanded position of the stent against a vessel wall.