Patent ID: 8419788

Claim:
A stent comprising: a multiple number of strands each including a strand portion on both sides of a first strand bend, each of the strand portions having an end, the strand portions being woven to define a stent body having a plurality of strand intersections between a first stent body end and a second stent body end, one said strand portion crossing one other said strand portion at each of said strand intersections, the first strand bends defining the first stent body end, some of the strand portions including a second strand bend and being back braided towards the first stent body end, the second strand bends defining the second stent body end, the strand portion ends disposed proximate to the second stent body end; and a multiple number of tubular coupling structures, the number of coupling structures equal to the number of strands, the coupling structures being different than the strands, each of the coupling structures secured to two of said strand portion ends by welding, the coupling structures being axially aligned with each other along an axial direction of the stent, and at least one crossing strand crossing over each of the coupling structures at a position radially outward from the coupling structure.