Patent ID: 7534258

Claim:
A flexible intravascular stent for use in a body lumen, comprising: a plurality of cylindrical rings aligned along a common longitudinal axis and interconnected to form the stent, at least one cylindrical ring having a first delivery diameter and a second implanted diameter; each cylindrical ring having a plurality of first peaks, each of the first peaks having a first height; each cylindrical ring having a plurality of second peaks, each second peak having a second height, the second height being shorter than the first height; at least one undulating link attaching at least one cylindrical ring to an adjacent cylindrical ring, the undulating links having a curved portion extending transverse to the stent longitudinal axis toward the second peak, the second height of the second peak being sized so that as the stent is compressed to the first delivery diameter, the curved portion of the undulating link is longitudinally aligned with the second peak and no portion of the undulating link contacts the second peak, the first height of the first peak being sized so as to be circumferentially aligned with at least a portion of said curved portion of said undulating link; and each undulating link having a first arm that is straight and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a second curved arm.