Stent with support element

1. An implantable stent comprising:

a stent sidewall having a plurality of struts including a first strut having an abluminal surface, a subluminal surface, and at least one side surface, the abluminal surface having a width and a length, the width being less than the length;

a first depression formed in the abluminal surface of the first strut, the first depression having a width less than the width of the abluminal surface; and

a first support element at least partially disposed in the first depression;

wherein the first support element at least partially comprises a metal filament and wherein the first support element comprises a shape-memory metal; and the stent

further comprising a second depression formed in the subluminal surface of the first strut; and a second support element at least partially disposed in the second depression, and wherein the second support element at least partially comprises a metal filament.

2. The stent of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first support element extends beyond the abluminal surface of the first strut.

3. The stent of claim 1 , wherein the first depression is a groove.

4. The stent of claim 1 , wherein the first support element comprises a coating composition disposed thereon and wherein the coating composition comprises a therapeutic agent.

5. The stent of claim 4 , wherein the coating composition further comprises a polymer.

6. The stent of claim 1 , wherein the first support element has a curved cross-section.

7. The stent of claim 1 , wherein the first strut comprises a coating composition disposed thereon.

8. The stent of claim 7 , wherein the coating composition comprises a therapeutic agent.

9. The stent of claim 1 , further comprising a second strut having an abluminal surface and a third depression formed in the abluminal surface of the second strut.

10. The stent of claim 1 , wherein the first support element comprises a resilient metal.

11. The stent of claim 1 , wherein the first support element comprises nitinol.

12. The stent of claim 1 , wherein the stent is an intravascular stent.

13. An implantable stent comprising:

a plurality of first struts, each first strut having an abluminal surface, a subluminal surface, at least one side surface, and a longitudinal axis,

the abluminal surface of each first strut having a first depression formed therein, wherein the first depression is disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first strut; and

a plurality of first support elements, each first support element comprising a filament, each first support element having a longitudinal axis, wherein each first support element is at least partially disposed in a first depression of one of the plurality of first struts so that the longitudinal axis of the first support element is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first strut, and wherein each first support element comprises a shape-memory metal;

at least one of the plurality of first struts further comprising a second depression formed in the subluminal surface; and a second support element at least partially disposed in the second depression.

14. The stent of claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of first support elements extends beyond the abluminal surface of the first strut.

15. The stent of claim 13 , wherein the first depression is a groove.

16. The stent of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of first support elements comprises a coating composition disposed thereon and wherein the coating composition comprises a therapeutic agent.

17. The stent of claim 13 wherein at least one of the plurality of first support elements has a curved cross-section.

18. The stent of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of first struts comprises a coating composition disposed thereon.

19. The stent of claim 18 , wherein the coating composition comprises a therapeutic agent.

20. The stent of claim 13 , further comprising a second strut having an abluminal surface and a third depression formed in the abluminal surface of the second strut.

21. The stent of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of first support elements comprises a resilient metal.

22. The stent of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of first support elements comprises nitinol.

23. The stent of claim 13 , wherein the stent is a intravascular stent.

24. An implantable stent comprising:

a stent sidewall, the stent sidewall having a plurality of struts and a plurality of openings,

wherein, the sidewall comprises a first strut having an abluminal surface, a subluminal surface, and at least one side surface;

a first depression formed in the abluminal surface of the first strut; and

a first support element at least partially disposed in the first depression, wherein the first support element does not extend into any of the plurality of openings, and wherein the first support element comprises a shape-memory metal;

wherein the first support element is hollow and wherein a therapeutic agent is disposed within the first support element.

25. The stent of claim 24 , wherein at least a portion of the first support element extends beyond the abluminal surface of the first strut.

26. The stent of claim 24 , wherein the first depression is a groove.

27. The stent of claim 24 , wherein the first support element comprises a coating composition disposed thereon and wherein the coating composition comprises a therapeutic agent.

28. The stent of claim 27 , wherein the coating composition further comprises a polymer.

29. The stent of claim 24 , wherein the first support element has a curved cross-section.

30. The stent of claim 24 , wherein the first strut comprises a coating composition disposed thereon.

31. The stent of claim 30 , wherein the coating composition comprises a therapeutic agent.

32. The stent of claim 24 , further comprising a second depression formed in the subluminal surface of the first strut; and a second support element at least partially disposed in the second depression.

33. The stent of claim 32 , wherein the second support element does not extend into any of the plurality of openings.

34. The stent of claim 24 , further comprising a second strut having an abluminal surface and a second depression formed in the abluminal surface of the second strut.

35. The stent of claim 34 , further comprising a second support element at least partially disposed in the second depression, and at least partially comprising a metal filament, wherein the second support element does not extend into any of the plurality of openings.

36. The stent of claim 24 , wherein the first support element comprises a resilient metal.

37. The stent of claim 24 , wherein the first support element comprises nitinol.

38. The stent of claim 24 , wherein an outer surface of the first support element defines a plurality of pores.

39. The stent of claim 24 , further comprising a first coating, the first coating disposed in the first depression underneath the first support element.

40. The stent of claim 24 , wherein the first depression has a first surface, the first surface being textured.

41. A stent comprising:

a plurality of first struts, each first strut having a first surface, the first surface having a width and a length, the width being less than the length;

the first surface of each first strut having a first depression formed therein, the first depression having a width less than the width of the first surface; and

a plurality of first support elements, each first support element being disposed in a first depression of one of the plurality of first struts, wherein each first support element comprises a shape memory metal;

wherein at least one of the plurality of first support elements being hollow and wherein a therapeutic agent is disposed within the at least one of the plurality of first support elements.

42. The stent of claim 41 , the first depression having a depth, each first support element having a height, wherein the depth of the first depression is less than the height of the first support element disposed therein.

43. The stent of claim 41 , the first depression having a depth, each first support element having a height, wherein the depth of the first depression is greater than the height of the first support element disposed therein.

44. The stent of claim 41 , the first depression having a first surface, the first surface of the first depression being textured.

45. The stent of claim 41 , at least one of the plurality of first support elements having a coating.

46. The stent of claim 41 , the first depression having a cross-sectional shape, each first support element having a cross-sectional shape, at least a portion of the cross-sectional shape of the first support element being the same as the cross-sectional shape of the first depression in which the first support element is disposed.

47. The stent of claim 41 , the first depression having a cross-sectional shape, each first support element having a cross-sectional shape different than the cross-sectional shape of the first depression in which the first support element is disposed.

48. An implantable stent comprising:

a stent sidewall, the stent sidewall having a plurality of struts and a plurality of openings,

wherein, the sidewall comprises a first strut having an abluminal surface, a subluminal surface, and at least one side surface;

a first depression formed in the abluminal surface of the first strut; and

a first support element at least partially disposed in the first depression, wherein the first support element does not extend into any of the plurality of openings, and wherein the first support element comprises a shape-memory metal; and the stent

further comprising a second depression formed in the subluminal surface of the first strut; and a second support element at least partially disposed in the second depression.

49. The stent of claim 48 , wherein the second support element does not extend into any of the plurality of openings.