Low profile stent with flexible link

Abstract

The invention provides an improved stent design for repairing vasculature, the stent having rings including struts defining first peaks and second peaks, selected second peaks of adjacent rings being connected by links. The stent design incorporates non-linear links with undulating portions extending generally perpendicular to or circumferentially with respect to a longitudinal axis of the stent and adjacent first peaks with different longitudinal lengths such that stent flexibility is increased without sacrificing stent compression for delivery.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A stent, comprising:
 a cylindrical body having a plurality of rings aligned along a common longitudinal axis, the rings having a first delivery diameter and a second implanted diameter, the rings including struts defining a plurality of first peaks directed in a first longitudinal direction and a plurality of second peaks directed in a second, opposite longitudinal direction; and   an undulating link having an undulating portion and a straight link connecting adjacent rings together;   wherein each ring includes a short first peak and a plurality of long first peaks, the short first peak having a longitudinal length that is shorter than the longitudinal length of the long first peaks, the short first peak being located adjacent to the undulating link to thereby provide a space for the undulating portion when the rings are in the first delivery position.   
     
     
         22 . The stent of  claim 21 , wherein the short first peak is located between two long first peaks. 
     
     
         23 . The stent of  claim 21 , wherein the undulating link is attached to one of the second peaks of each ring. 
     
     
         24 . The stent of  claim 23 , wherein the undulating link is located between the short first peak and a long first peak.