An intravascular stent especially suited for implanting in curved arterial portions. The stent retains longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The stent includes a plurality of first circumferential bands containing a pattern of loops at a first frequency and a plurality of second circumferential bands containing a pattern of loops at a second frequency higher than said first frequency, alternating with said first circumferential bands and periodically coupled thereto to form cells. The high frequency elements provide a flexibility after expansions which can be repeatedly stress by the beating heart, with out exceeding the elastic limit of the stent material.
