Stent

Abstract

A stent comprises a plurality of serpentine circumferential bands and a plurality of connector columns. Each connector column is located between two adjacent serpentine circumferential bands and comprises a plurality connector struts. Each connector strut is connected at one end to one serpentine circumferential band and at another end to another serpentine circumferential band. Each connector strut has step sections and at least one riser. Each step section extends substantially in a circumferential direction and each riser extends in a substantially longitudinal direction. The steps in a connector are connected to one another via a riser.

1 - 24 . (canceled)  
   
   
       25 . A stent comprising: 
 a plurality of serpentine bands; and    a plurality of connector columns, each connector column located between two adjacent serpentine bands, each connector column comprising a plurality of connector struts, each connector strut attached at one end to one serpentine band and attached at another end to another serpentine band, each connector strut attached only to said serpentine bands;    at least one connector column comprising a first connector strut and a second connector strut, the first connector strut contacting the second connector strut at a first location, the first connector strut spaced apart from the second connector strut in a stent axial direction at a second location.    
   
   
       26 . The stent of  claim 25 , the first connector strut contacting the second connector strut at a third location.  
   
   
       27 . The stent of  claim 26 , wherein the first location and the third location define corners of a substantially rectangular or parallelogram shaped space bounded by the first connector strut and the second connector strut.  
   
   
       28 . The stent of  claim 27 , further comprising a third connector strut contacting the second connector strut at a fourth location, the third connector strut spaced apart from the second connector strut in a stent axial direction at a fifth location.  
   
   
       29 . The stent of  claim 28 , the third connector strut contacting the second connector strut at a sixth location.  
   
   
       30 . The stent of  claim 29 , wherein the fourth location and the sixth location define corners of a substantially rectangular or parallelogram shaped space bounded by the third connector strut and the second connector strut.  
   
   
       31 . The stent of  claim 25 , further comprising a third connector strut contacting the second connector strut at a third location, the third connector strut spaced apart from the second connector strut in a stent axial direction at a fourth location.  
   
   
       32 . The stent of  claim 25 , wherein the spacing between the first connector strut and the second connector strut at the second location is approximately four times a width of the first connector strut.  
   
   
       33 . The stent of  claim 25 , wherein connector struts of a first connector column reverse orientation from connector struts of a second connector column.  
   
   
       34 . The stent of  claim 25 , wherein each connector strut contacts two adjacent connector struts.  
   
   
       35 . The stent of  claim 34 , wherein each connector strut further comprises a portion that is spaced apart from a circumferentially adjacent connector strut in a stent axial direction.  
   
   
       36 . The stent of  claim 25 , wherein the first connector strut and the second connector strut each comprise a plurality of step sections and at least one riser.  
   
   
       37 . The stent of  claim 36 , wherein the step sections are parallel to one another when the stent is viewed as a flat pattern.  
   
   
       38 . The stent of  claim 36 , wherein the risers are parallel to one another when the stent is viewed as a flat pattern.  
   
   
       39 . The stent of  claim 25 , wherein a connector strut attaches at one end to an upper half of a peak of one serpentine band and attaches at the other end to a lower half of a trough of another serpentine band.  
   
   
       40 . A stent comprising: 
 a plurality of serpentine bands; and    a first connector strut, a second connector strut and a third connector strut connected between two adjacent serpentine bands, said connector struts not attached to one another, the first connector strut contacting the second connector strut at a first location, the first connector strut spaced apart from the second connector strut in a stent axial direction at a second location, the third connector strut contacting the second connector strut at a third location, the third connector strut spaced apart from the second connector strut in a stent axial direction at a fourth location.    
   
   
       41 . The stent of  claim 40 , a first serpentine band comprising a peak, a second serpentine band comprising a trough, a portion of each of the first, second and third connector struts located between the peak and the trough.  
   
   
       42 . The stent of  claim 41 , wherein the peak and trough are aligned in a stent axial direction.  
   
   
       43 . The stent of  claim 42 , wherein the first location and the third location are located between the peak and trough.  
   
   
       44 . The stent of  claim 42 , wherein the first connector strut extends from an upper half of the peak in a downward direction, and the third connector strut extends from a lower half of the trough in an upward direction.