This application claims benefit from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/094,492, tiled Jun. 10, 1998 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,165, issued Sep. 12, 2002; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/511,481. filed Feb. 23, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,108,714 issued Sep. 19, 2006; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/014,705 filed Dec. 11, 2001, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

FIG. 1 is a top, front and right side perspective view of a polymeric stent structure showing our new design, the side opposite being a mirror image; and,

FIG. 2 is a another top, front and right side perspective view thereof shown in fragment, on an enlarged scale, in a partially open condition.