Importance

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Abstract

Disclosed is a comparatively thick-walled vascular stent comprising sets of strut members connected by flexible, longitudinally extending links. This design utilizes flexible links with a variety of different shapes. Adjacent flexible links around the circumference of the stent are designed to nest one into the other, allowing the stent to be both thick-walled and to crimp down without overlap onto a low profile balloon. The flexible links are attached to the sets of strut members not at the center like the 'S' links of prior art stents, but off center near the end of the curved strut portion of each set of strut members. This off center attachment point allows for a more flexible link without increasing the cell size of the expanded stent. Small cell size is desirable to limit plaque prolapse into the lumen of the expanded stent and to increase the stent's radial rigidity. The relatively thin strut width with thick wall allows the flexible links to easily lengthen and shorten during stent delivery into the body while still providing each flexible link with a considerable degree of radial strength.

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First Claim