Patent ID: 7094255

Claim:
An expandable stent comprising: a proximal end and a distal end in communication with one another, a tubular wall disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, the tubular wall having a longitudinal axis and a porous surface defined by a plurality intersecting members arranged to define a first repeating pattern comprised of a polygon having: (i) a pair of side walls substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, (ii) a single concave-shaped first end wall having a first apex, and (iii) a single convex-shaped second end wall having a second apex, the concave-shaped first end wall and the convex-shaped second end wall connecting the side walls, at least one of the first apex and the second apex being substantially flat, 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; wherein each side wall (i) is connected to a corresponding end wall portion that is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, and (ii) comprises at least a flex member connected to at least one straight segment disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the flex member comprising a curved shape, which curves in a non-radial direction of the stent.