or spiral configuration the circumferentially disposed segments may also be joined by a plurality of temporary joints temporary joints may be comprised of weak linkages that will break over time as a result of physiological stress after the stent is deployed the temporary joints however may be strong enough to remain intact during deployment of the stent such that the stent has increased column strength during loading of the stent on a catheter as well as delivery and deployment of the stent disengagement of these temporary joints facilitates deployment in a curved vessel or in a vessel which undergoes a change in diameter at me deployment site the temporary joints may also help prevent the stent from longitudinally elongating or shrinking axially when it is radially expanded during deployment in certain embodiments two adjacent circumferential segments will have a temporary joint wherever a peak or valley is proximal to a corresponding peak or valley on an adjacent circumferential segment in other embodiments two adjacent circumferential segments may have about 1 8 temporary joints connecting them the temporary joints may be comprised of a first interlocking structure and a second interlocking structure the interlock structure may be comprised of an elongated member that is contiguous with a strut fig5 illustrates suitable location for a slotted connection the first interlocking structure may comprise a male structure and the second interlocking structure may comprise a female structure adapted to receive the male structure in fig5 a slotted interlock structure female 812 is adapted to interlock with the male interlock structure not shown of an adjacent segment 816 shows a non slotted location where two struts meet the male and female interlock structures may be round or oval in shape or may assume other geometrically interlocking structures such as hooks illustrated in fig6 the.