A stent includes expandable rings formed from a plurality of interconnected struts. A plurality of bridges couple adjacent rings together. The bridges are connected to adjacent rings at first and second connection points, and a first brace element is disposed therebetween. The first connection point is circumferentially offset relative to the second connection point so that the bridge is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the stent. The first brace element of one bridge engages an adjacent bridge or a brace element of the adjacent bridge when the corresponding adjacent rings are in the contracted configuration thereby providing additional support and rigidity to the stent to lessen buckling of the stent during loading onto a delivery catheter or during deployment therefrom.
