#$%^&*AU2014265075A120141211.pdf#####1000839150 ABSTRACT The present invention relates to a tubular flexible stent having proximal and distal end portions and a cylindrical shape, with luminal and abluminal surfaces and a thickness there between, the cylindrical shape defining a longitudinal axis, the tubular flexible stent comprising: a helical section having of a plurality of longitudinally oriented strut members and a plurality of circumferentially oriented hinge members, each circumferentially oriented hinge member connecting each pair of circumferentially adjacent strut members and not longitudinally adjacent strut members to form a band, the band being wrapped about the longitudinal axis to form a plurality of helical windings, the helical section further comprising a proximal section, a distal section and an intermediate section there between, wherein the strut members forming the proximal and distal sections have a first strut width at coincident points along the strut length, and the strut members forming the intermediate section have a second strut width greater than the first strut width at coincident points along the strut length.
