An expansion ring for a braided stent includes a plurality of elongated forkedframeelements forming the expansion ring. Each of the frame elements includes firstand second legsextending in one direction and connected together at a junction portionforming a fulcrumallowing compression of the frame elements, and each of the frame elements arethreadedthrough interstices in a tubular body of the braided stent so that thejunction portions engage thetubular body of the braided stent. Each of the frame elements is connectedsequentially toadjacent frame elements at the ends of the first and second legs, and theexpansion ring has acompressed configuration with a first diameter and an expanded configurationwith a seconddiameter larger than the first diameter.
