Stent design having independent segments which uncouple upon deployment

An intraluminal medical device comprising multiple, independent, self-expanding stent segments. Each stent segment includes a plurality of longitudinal struts, a plurality of loops connecting adjacent struts, at least one bridging element and at least one receptacle. The bridging element of one or more of the stent segments is configured to be releasably engaged with the receptacle on an adjacent stent segment.