Abstract: The present invention is directed to an expandable stent which is relatively flexible along its longitudinal axis to facilitate delivery through tortuous body lumens, but which is stiff and stable enough radially in an expanded condition to maintain the patency of a body lumen such as an artery when implanted therein. The struts of the present invention have a specific trapezoidal, triangular or a reduced radii configuration projecting radially outward that functions to reduce the forces necessary to penetrate the vessel wall thereby minimizing trauma or damage imparted to the wall during deployment. In addition, this design feature of the present invention helps secure the expanded stent so that it does not move once it is implanted and furthermore, minimizes projections into the blood stream. The invention generally includes a plurality of radially expandable loop elements which are relatively independent in their ability to expand and to flex relative to one another.