US Patent 7247166 Intravascular stent with extendible end rings

An expandable stent for implanting in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen includes cylindrical rings connected by undulating links. The stent has a high degree of flexibility in the longitudinal direction, yet has adequate vessel wall coverage and radial strength sufficient to hold open an artery or other body lumen. The distal and proximal end ring have peaks that extend longitudinally when the stent is radially expanded. The end ring extensions reduce the likelihood of the development of peri-stent restenosis.