Patent ID: 7959668

Claim:
A stent comprising: a plurality of interconnected framework members defining a plurality of cells, a portion of the interconnected framework members comprising a side branch structure defining an inner side branch cell, the inner side branch cell being shaped differently than other cells of the stent, a portion of the interconnected framework members comprising a support ring extending continuously around the side branch structure, the support ring being continuously concave with respect to a side branch center point; the side branch structure comprising: a first serpentine ring extending around and defining the inner side branch cell, the first serpentine ring comprising alternating inner turns and outer turns connected by straight struts, the inner turns being distributed around a reference circle centered upon the side branch center point; a second serpentine ring extending around the first serpentine ring, the second serpentine ring comprising alternating inner turns and outer turns connected by straight struts, the second serpentine ring having the same number of inner turns and outer turns as the first serpentine ring; a plurality of inner side branch connectors, each inner side branch connector spanning between the first serpentine ring and the second serpentine ring in a side branch radial direction; a plurality of outer side branch connectors, each outer side branch connector spanning between the second serpentine ring and the support ring, each outer side branch connector comprising a curved portion, at least some of the outer side branch connectors comprising an s-shape; and an ancillary side branch structure strut attached at one end to a said outer side branch connector having said s-shape and attached at another end to another said outer side branch connector having said s-shape; wherein said support ring is separate and distinct from said side branch structure.