An implantable stent (10, 10') includes a plurality of elongate wires (18) braided to form a hollow tubular structure having a tubular wall (16) to define an interior surface (106) and an,exterior surface (104) and having opposed open first and second ends (12.14), wherein the opposed open first and second ends (12, 14) are atraumatic ends The atraumatic ends of the stent are desirably free of any loose wire ends. The wires (18) include composite wires to enhance visibility of the wires to provide improved external imaging of the wires in the body. The elongate composite wires of the stent may be metallic wires having an outer metallic portion including a first metal, such as nitinol, and an inner metallic core portion including a second metal, which is a radiopaque material, such as gold, barium sulfate, ferritic particles, platinum, platinum-tungsten, palladium, platinum-iridium, rhodium, tantalum or combinations thereof.
