Patent ID: 8382817

Claim:
A stent, comprising: a plurality of elongate strut members spaced apart, each elongate strut member extending lengthwise to define a longitudinal axis, each elongate strut member having a plurality of alternating peaks and valleys, the peaks and valleys of each elongate strut member being in phase with the peaks and valleys of adjacent elongate members; and a first set of connecting links connecting elongate strut members together to form a tubular stent body, each of the connecting links of the first set attaching a peak of one elongated strut member to a peak of an adjacent elongated strut member which is offset from that peak, the first set of connecting links being disposed laterally adjacent to each other about the tubular stent body to form a first stacked region on the tubular stent body; a second set of connecting links connecting elongate strut members together to form the tubular stent body, each of the connecting links of the second set attaching a peak of one elongated strut member to a peak of an adjacent elongated strut member which is offset from that peak, the second set of connecting links being disposed laterally adjacent to each other about the tubular stent body to form a second stacked region on the tubular stent body; and a flex region formed between the first and second stacked regions.