| abstract |
A stent with an increased vessel coverage includes a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally arranged on a common longitudinal stent axis and interconnected by one or more interconnecting members placed so that the stent remains flexible in a longitudinal direction. Each cylindrical element is formed in a generally serpentine wave pattern having alternating valley and peak portions which is capable of nesting when crimped or placed in a compressed condition. The valley portions and peak portions may be V-shaped and W-shaped elements which have different longitudinal lengths which permit the nesting of the cylindrical element. The stent can be made to be expandable by an external force, such as a balloon expandable dilatation catheter, or can be self-expanding when made from a material which is self-expanding. |