Flared stent and method for use

• US 7,867,269 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2005
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Murray, Robert III
• Primary Examiner(s): Milano; Michael J
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, VI X
• Application Number:
  US11/268,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20060069421A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,891 Days
• Field of Search: 606/108, 606/194, 606/195, 606/198, 623/1.11, 623/1.12, 623/1.13, 623/1.15, 623/1.35, 128/898
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/915 with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/067 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91525 within the whole structure different bands showing different meander characteristics, e.g. frequency or amplitude
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91541 Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0037 differing in height or in length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter

Abstract

A tubular stent that uniformly scaffolds vessel tissue within a region that significantly changes diameter or transverse dimension. The invention may be practiced in lumens that taper in either retrograde or antegrade directions, and the transverse dimensional change may be relatively linear or flared. A catheter for delivering the stent of the invention may include a balloon having a comparably flared shape and an inverse conical distal end. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Claims

1. A method of implanting a stent comprising:

receiving a tubular stent having a length, distal and proximal ends and being mounted, in a compressed configuration, about a balloon inflatably disposed at a distal end of a delivery catheter, the compressed configuration having a generally constant diameter and a pattern density that declines over the length of the stent;

using the delivery catheter to transport the stent to a flared location in a vessel of a patient; and

inflating the balloon to deform the stent into an expanded configuration imbedded in the vessel, the expanded configuration having a flared shape and a pattern density that is generally uniform over the length of the stent;

wherein the flared shape of the expanded stent configuration is wider at the distal end than at the proximal end.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the balloon inflates to a flared shape generally conforming with the expanded configuration of the stent.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the flared location in the vessel is a portion of a bifurcation proximally adjacent a carina.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the balloon has a concave distal end to permit placement of the stent proximally abutting the carina.