#$%^&*AU2014265078B220170202.pdf#####1000839126 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 connecting circumferentially adjacent strut members to form a band, the band being wrapped about the longitudinal axis in a substantially helical manner 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 band forming the proximal and distal sections is comprises of members having a first band width at coincident points along the band length, and the band forming the intermediate section is comprises of members having a second band width greater than the first band width at coincident points along the band length.
