Balloon catheter for multiple adjustable stent deployment
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of delivering a plurality of stents, comprising:
- intravascularly positioning a catheter proximate or adjacent to a first lesion, the catheter having a distal end, an inflatable balloon near the distal end, at least a first stent and a second stent slidably positionable into direct contact upon the balloon via a positioner which is slidable longitudinally along the catheter independently of each of the stents, and a separating mechanism comprising a separating ring positioned between the first stent and the second stent, wherein the at least first and second stents can be arranged in any order along the catheter;
positioning the first stent such that the first stent is positioned into direct contact upon the balloon, whereby the first stent to be expanded is further separated from the second stent;
expanding the balloon to expand the first stent at the first lesion while the second stent is retained unexpanded on the catheter;
repositioning the catheter proximate or adjacent to a second lesion; and
expanding the balloon to expand the second stent at the second lesion,wherein the first stent and the second stent have different lengths.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter configured to carry one or more stents and having an inflatable balloon for expanding a stent surrounding the balloon. The catheter is characterized in having a positioner for moving the one or more stents relative to the balloon from a first position in which the stent does not surround the balloon to a second position in which the stent surrounds the balloon. Also disclosed is a method for deploying a stent at a desired location in the vascular system.
308 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of delivering a plurality of stents, comprising:
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intravascularly positioning a catheter proximate or adjacent to a first lesion, the catheter having a distal end, an inflatable balloon near the distal end, at least a first stent and a second stent slidably positionable into direct contact upon the balloon via a positioner which is slidable longitudinally along the catheter independently of each of the stents, and a separating mechanism comprising a separating ring positioned between the first stent and the second stent, wherein the at least first and second stents can be arranged in any order along the catheter; positioning the first stent such that the first stent is positioned into direct contact upon the balloon, whereby the first stent to be expanded is further separated from the second stent; expanding the balloon to expand the first stent at the first lesion while the second stent is retained unexpanded on the catheter; repositioning the catheter proximate or adjacent to a second lesion; and expanding the balloon to expand the second stent at the second lesion, wherein the first stent and the second stent have different lengths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of delivering a plurality of stents, comprising:
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intravascularly positioning a catheter proximate or adjacent to a first lesion, the catheter having a distal end, an inflatable balloon near the distal end, a first stent, a second stent adjacent to and proximal to the first stent, the first stent and the second stent each slidably positionable to surround the balloon via a positioner which is slidable longitudinally along the catheter independently of each of the stents, and a separating mechanism comprising a separating ring positioned between the first and the second stent; sliding the first stent via the positioner into direct contact upon the balloon; separating the first stent from the second stent such that while the first stent is in direct contact with the balloon the second stent is proximal to the balloon; expanding the balloon to expand the first stent at the first lesion; sliding the second stent via the positioner toward the distal end so that the second stent is positioned in direct contact upon the balloon; repositioning the catheter proximate or adjacent to a second lesion; and expanding the balloon to expand the second stent at the second lesion. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of delivering a plurality of stents, comprising:
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intravascularly advancing a catheter proximate or adjacent to a first lesion, the catheter carrying a plurality of stents slidably positionable in direct contact upon an inflatable balloon near a distal end of the catheter via a positioner which is slidable longitudinally along the catheter independently of each of the stents, the catheter further carrying a separating mechanism comprising separating rings positioned between adjacent stents; separating at least one stent from a remainder of the plurality of stents by sliding the positioner to place the one stent in direct contact with the balloon; expanding the one stent at the first lesion while the remainder of stents is retained unexpanded on the catheter; and removing the catheter with the remainder of stents from the first lesion; wherein the one stent has a deployed length when expanded greater than the length of one of the remainder of stents retained on the catheter. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of delivering a plurality of stents, comprising:
- positioning a catheter in a vessel having a first lesion and a second lesion, the catheter having a shaft, a distal tip, a plurality of stents over the shaft proximal to the distal tip and slidably positionable in direct contact upon an inflatable balloon near a distal end of the catheter via a positioner which is slidable longitudinally along the catheter independently of each of the stents, and a separating mechanism comprising separating rings positioned between adjacent stents, wherein the plurality of stents can be arranged in any order along the catheter;
advancing the catheter so that the distal tip is distal to the first lesion; separating one stent from the plurality of stents such that the one stent is positioned upon the balloon; expanding the one stent at the first lesion while at least a second stent of the plurality of stents is retained unexpanded on the catheter, the distal tip being maintained in a stationary position distal to the first lesion while the at least one stent is expanded; repositioning the catheter so that the distal tip is distal to a second lesion spaced apart from the first lesion; and expanding the second stent at the second lesion, the distal tip being maintained in a stationary position distal to the second lesion while the second stent is expanded. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
- positioning a catheter in a vessel having a first lesion and a second lesion, the catheter having a shaft, a distal tip, a plurality of stents over the shaft proximal to the distal tip and slidably positionable in direct contact upon an inflatable balloon near a distal end of the catheter via a positioner which is slidable longitudinally along the catheter independently of each of the stents, and a separating mechanism comprising separating rings positioned between adjacent stents, wherein the plurality of stents can be arranged in any order along the catheter;
Specification