Expansion strut spacing  52 between adjacent expansion struts 28 in a given expansion column 24 are uniform in stent 10 of FIGS. 2A and 2B; however, non-uniform spacings can also be used. Expansion strut spacings 52 can be varied, for example, spacings 52 between adjacent expansion struts 28 in an expansion column 24 can alternate between a narrow and a wide spacing. Additionally, spacings 52 in a single expansion column 24 can differ from other spacings 52 in other columns 24.
Connecting struts  38 couple adjacent expansion columns 24, by connecting the distal. end of an expansion strut pair in one expansion column 24 to the proximal end of an adjacent expansion strut pair 32 in a second expansion column 24. Connecting struts 38 of FIGS. 2A and 2B are formed from two linear sections, a first linear section 54 being joined at its distal end to a second linear section 56 at its proximal end to form a first slant angle 58.
FIGS. 8A, 8B,  8C, 8D and 8E illustrates some examples of alternate connecting strut designs which can be used in any of the previously discussed embodiments. FIG. 8A shows a rounded loop connecting strut 38 which joins two circumferentially offset expansion strut pairs 32 in adjacent expansion columns. Expansion struts 28 in each expansion strut pair 32 are joined by a joining strut 30. Joining struts 30 are slanted such as to form a narrow angle 48 and a wide angle 50 with the expansion struts 28 they connect. The rounded loop connecting strut 38 connects expansion struts 28 at the point where narrow angle is formed between expansion strut 28 and joining strut 30. The slopes of the rounded connecting strut 38 at its proximal end 102 and distal end 104 substantially match the slopes of the joining struts 30 connecting the pairs of expansion struts 28. The rounded loop connecting strut 38 thus blends smoothly into the joining struts 30. Additionally the rounded loop connecting strut 38 has a first radius of curvature 106 and a second radius of curvature 108.
a plurality of connector columns that couple adjacent expansion columns, the plurality of connector columns including a first connector column that couples the first and second expansion columns, each connector column of the plurality of connector columns having at least one or more connector struts selectively skipped and leaving a bank connector strut space between adjacent expansion columns.
2. The stent of claim 1, wherein the skipped connector struts increase a flexibility of the connector columns.
3. The stent of claim 1, wherein the skipped connector struts enlarge a size of a related stent cell.
4. The stent of claim 1, wherein a first connector column having at least one connector strut skipped, leaving a blank connector space in a first connector column and one link missing between first and second expansion columns.
5. The stent of claim 1, wherein each of plurality of connector columns having at least one connector strut skipped, leaving at least one connector space blank in each of plurality of connector columns and at least one link missing between each adjacent expansion columns of plurality of expansion columns.
6. The stent of claim 1, wherein some of plurality of connector columns having at least one connector strut skipped, leaving at least one connector space blank in some of plurality of connector columns and at least one link missing between some of adjacent expansion columns of plurality of expansion columns.
7. The stent of claim 1, wherein a first connector column having more than one connector strut skipped, leaving more than one connector space blank in a first connector column and more than one link missing between first and second expansion columns.
8. The stent of claim 1, wherein each of plurality of connector columns having more than one connector strut skipped, leaving more than one connector space blank in each of plurality of connector columns and more than one link missing between each adjacent expansion columns of plurality of expansion columns.
9. The stent of claim 1, wherein some of plurality of connector columns having more than one connector strut skipped, leaving more than one connector space blank in some of plurality of connector columns and more than one link missing between some of adjacent expansion columns of plurality of expansion columns.
10. The stent of claim 1, wherein a first connector column having every connector strut except one connector strut skipped, leaving every connector space blank except one connector strut space in a first connector column and every link, except one link, missing between a first and a second expansion columns.
11. The stent of claim 1, wherein each of plurality of connector columns having every connector strut except one connector strut skipped, leaving every connector space blank except one connector strut space in each of plurality of connector columns and every link, except one link, missing between each adjacent expansion columns of plurality of expansion columns.
12. The stent of claim 1, wherein some of plurality of connector columns having every connector strut except one connector strut skipped, leaving every connector space blank except one connector strut space in some of plurality of connector columns and every link, except one link, missing between some of adjacent expansion columns of plurality of expansion columns.
13. The stent of claim 1, wherein a first connector column having every connector strut except two connector struts skipped, leaving every connector strut space blank except two connector struts in a first connector column and every link, except two links, missing between a first and a second expansion columns.
14. The stent of claim 1, wherein each of plurality of connector columns having every connector strut except two connector struts skipped, leaving every connector strut space blank except two connector struts in each of plurality of connector columns and every link, except two links, missing between each adjacent expansion columns of plurality of expansion columns.
15. The stent of claim 1, wherein some of plurality of connector columns having every connector strut except two connector struts skipped, leaving every connector strut space blank except two connector struts in some of plurality of connector columns and every link, except two links, missing between some of adjacent expansion columns of plurality of expansion columns.
16. The stent of claim 1, wherein a first connector column having every connector strut, except three connector struts, skipped, leaving every connector strut space blank except three connector struts in a first connector column and every link, except three links, missing between a first and a second expansion columns.
17. The stent of claim 1, wherein each of plurality of connector column having every connector strut, except three connector struts skipped leaving every connector strut space blank except three connector struts in each of plurality of connector column and every link, except three links, missing between each adjacent expansion columns of plurality of expansion columns.
18. The stent of claim 1, wherein some of plurality of connector column having every connector strut, except three connector struts skipped leaving every connector strut space blank except three connector struts in some of plurality of connector columns and every link, except three links missing in some of adjacent expansion columns of plurality of expansion columns.
19. The stent of claim 1, wherein a first connector column having every other connector struts skipped leaving every other connector strut space blank in a first connector column and every other link missing between first and second expansion columns.
20. The stent of claim 1, wherein each of plurality of connector columns having every other connector struts skipped leaving every other connector strut space blank in each of plurality of connector columns and every other link missing between each adjacent expansion columns of plurality of expansion columns.
21. The stent of claim 1, wherein some of plurality of connector columns having every other connector struts skipped leaving every other connector strut space blank in some of plurality of connector columns and every other link missing in some of adjacent expansion columns of plurality of expansion column.
22. The stent of claim 1, wherein said stent is a balloon expandable stent.
23. The stent of claim 1, wherein said stent is self-expanding stent.