Stent

1. A stent comprising:

a plurality of annular segments arranged peripherally along a longitudinal axis to define opposing free ends, each annular segment comprising a plurality of interconnected segment struts; and

a plurality of connector struts each extending along the longitudinal axis between, and connecting, adjacent annular segments, each connector strut comprising an axial section and a compensating section, wherein at least a portion of each of the segment struts, axial sections, and compensating sections is curved, wherein each of the compensating sections comprises a V-shaped section having a pair of curved inclined sections, wherein each of the segment struts and axial sections continuously curve along their respective lengths, wherein a pair of segment struts is configured to conform to each axial section along their respective lengths in a contracted state, and wherein a plurality of adjacent segment struts are adjoined to one another via a transition section, the transition section being directly attached to an adjacent compensating section.

2. The stent according to claim 1 , wherein each of the segment struts and axial sections is curved in a wave shape.

3. The stent according to claim 1 , wherein each of the segment struts extends obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis.

4. The stent according to claim 1 , wherein each of the compensating sections comprises a pair of arms extending parallel to one another and from the pair of curved inclined sections to define a closed end.

5. The stent according to claim 4 , wherein each of the closed ends extend in a same peripheral direction.

6. The stent according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of head ends extending from respective transition sections at one or more of the free ends.

7. The stent according to claim 1 , wherein a width of at least a portion of each of the connector struts is less than a width of each of the segments struts.

8. The stent according to claim 7 , wherein a width of each axial section is less than a width of each segment strut.

9. The stent according to claim 1 , wherein each of the segment struts widens from a middle area to its respective ends.

10. The stent according to claim 1 , wherein each annular segment comprises a plurality of segment struts defining a plurality of peaks and valleys each extending in a same axial direction along the longitudinal axis, and wherein each of the plurality of connector struts extends between respective peaks of the segment struts.

11. A stent comprising:

a plurality of annular segments arranged peripherally along a longitudinal axis to define opposing free ends, each annular segment comprising a plurality of interconnected segment struts; and

a plurality of connector struts each extending along the longitudinal axis between, and connecting, adjacent annular segments, the plurality of the connector struts comprising:

an axial section connected to a given annular segment of the plurality of annular segments; and

a compensating section, comprising:

a pair of arms oppositely curved and inclined, a first arm of the pair of arms connecting to the axial section, and a second arm of the pair of arms connecting to an annular segment of the plurality of annular segments that is adjacent to the given annular segment;

parallel end sections connecting to the pair of arms; and

a closed end connecting the parallel end sections;

wherein each of the interconnected segment struts and connector struts continuously curve along at least a portion of their respective lengths.

12. The stent according to claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of each of the segment struts and connector struts is curved in a wave shape.