A method of forming a stent (10) includes forming a wave form (12) from a formable material. The wave form includes a plurality of substantially straight portions (18) and a plurality of curved portions (20), each curved portion (20) connecting adjacent substantially straight portions (18). The method includes wrapping the wave form (12) around a mandrel (30) at an angle a to form a helical coil comprising a plurality of turns (22), connecting a first curved portion (20a) of a first turn (22a) to an adjacent second curved portion (20b) of a second turn (22b) at a position along the wave form to define an end of the stent (10), and removing excess material (15) from an end of the wave form (12) extending past the first curved portion (20a) while smoothing the end of the stent (10).