Intravascular stent

Abstract

A stent design reduces the likelihood of contact among structural members when the stent diameter is reduced before insertion into the body. In one approach, an undulating link has a J-shaped profile or has an angled portion on one side at the peak of the link, in order to reduce contact during crimping. The stent may also include structural features that improve such aspects as flexibility, the coatibility of a drug coating onto the stent, flare reduction, stent retention within the body and/or reduction of the minimum diameter of the stent during crimping.

1 - 58 . (canceled) 
     
     
         59 . A flexible intravascular stent for use in a body lumen, comprising:
 a plurality of cylindrical rings aligned along a common longitudinal axis;   at least one link connecting adjacent cylindrical rings; and   a proximal end ring having five symmetric crests of equal height.   
     
     
         60 . The stent of  claim 60 , wherein the stent further comprises at least one undulating link attaching each cylindrical ring to an adjacent cylindrical ring, the undulating links having a curved portion extending transverse to the stent longitudinal axis toward the second peak; and
 at least one undulating link having a first arm and a second arm, the first arm being substantially straight and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the second arm having a first substantially straight portion that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and a second, angled portion leading to the curve.   
     
     
         61 . The stent of  claim 60 , wherein the stent is formed from a shape memory alloy. 
     
     
         62 . The stent of  claim 60 , wherein the stent is formed from a superelastic or pseudoelastic metal alloy. 
     
     
         63 . The stent of  claim 60 , wherein at least a portion of the stent has a variable thickness configuration. 
     
     
         64 . The stent of  claim 60 , wherein at least some of the first peaks have a first radius and the second peaks have a second radius, the second radius being greater than the first radius. 
     
     
         65 . The stent of  claim 60 , wherein at least some of the first peaks have a pair of first struts and at least some of the second peaks have a pair of second struts, the first struts being longer than the second struts. 
     
     
         66 . The stent of  claim 60  further comprising means for improving flexibility of the stent. 
     
     
         67 . The stent of  claim 60 , wherein the stent further comprises means for improving coatibility of a drug coating onto the stent. 
     
     
         68 . The stent of  claim 60 , wherein the stent further comprises means for reducing flaring. 
     
     
         69 . The stent of  claim 60 , wherein the stent further comprises means for improving stent retention. 
     
     
         70 . The stent of  claim 60 , wherein the stent has at least two cells, a first cell having two long crests and one short crest, and a second cell having one long crest and one short crest. 
     
     
         71 . The stent of  claim 60 , wherein the stent further comprises at least one undulating link attaching each cylindrical ring to an adjacent cylindrical ring, at least some of the undulating links having a “J” shaped configuration. 
     
     
         72 . The stent of  claim 72 , wherein the stent further comprises a short crest having an upward angulation.