Stent deployment systems and methods
First Claim
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1. A method of deploying stent segments in a blood vessel having a luminal taper, the method comprising:
- transluminally introducing a catheter into the blood vessel, the catheter having an expandable member near a distal end thereof;
positioning a first plurality of independent stent segments over the expandable member such that a first stent segment is on a proximal extremity of the expandable member and a second stent segment is on a distal extremity of the expandable member, the first and second stent segments being independently movable relative to the expandable member; and
expanding the expandable member such that the proximal extremity has a first expanded diameter and the distal extremity has a second expanded diameter smaller than the first expanded diameter, wherein the first stent segment is expanded to a diameter larger than the second stent segment.
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Abstract
A stent deployment system includes a catheter shaft, an expandable member mounted to the catheter shaft, and one or more stents or stent segments slidably positioned on the expandable member. The stent deployment system is adapted for deployment of stents or stent segments in very long lesions and in tapered and curved vessels. The stent deployment system facilitates slidable movement of a stent in a distal direction relative to the expandable member while inhibiting slidable movement in a proximal direction relative to the expandable member.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method of deploying stent segments in a blood vessel having a luminal taper, the method comprising:
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transluminally introducing a catheter into the blood vessel, the catheter having an expandable member near a distal end thereof;
positioning a first plurality of independent stent segments over the expandable member such that a first stent segment is on a proximal extremity of the expandable member and a second stent segment is on a distal extremity of the expandable member, the first and second stent segments being independently movable relative to the expandable member; and
expanding the expandable member such that the proximal extremity has a first expanded diameter and the distal extremity has a second expanded diameter smaller than the first expanded diameter, wherein the first stent segment is expanded to a diameter larger than the second stent segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A stent deployment system comprising:
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an elongated catheter shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
an expandable member mounted to the catheter shaft near the distal end, the expandable member having a plurality of surface features projecting outwardly therefrom; and
a stent slidably positionable over the expandable member, wherein the surface features allow sliding movement of the stent distally relative to the expandable member and inhibit sliding movement of the stent proximally relative to the expandable member. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A stent deployment system comprising:
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an elongated catheter shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
an expandable member mounted to the catheter shaft near the distal end, the expandable member having an outer surface; and
a stent slidably positionable over the outer surface of the expandable member, wherein the outer surface is configured to allow sliding movement of the stent distally relative to the expandable member and inhibit sliding movement of the stent proximally relative to the expandable member. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification