Patent ID: 9522074
Filing Date: 2016-12-20
CPC Classification: A61F,A61M

Claim Text:
1. A stent delivery system comprising: an outer tube possessing an inner surface; an inner tube positioned inside the outer tube and possessing an outer surface, the inner surface of the outer tube being spaced from the outer surface of the inner tube so that a space exists between the inner surface of the outer tube and the outer surface of the inner tube; a balloon possessing a proximal portion fixed in a fluid-tight manner to the outer tube and also possessing a distal portion fixed in a fluid-tight manner to the inner tube, the space between the inner surface of the outer tube and the outer surface of the inner tube communicating with an interior of the balloon to allow expansion fluid to be introduced into the interior of the balloon to inflate the balloon and cause the balloon to expand in a radial outer direction; the balloon configured to be in a folded configuration around an outer circumference of the inner tube in a plurality of stacked layers so that the plurality of stacked layers overlie one another prior to introduction of any fluid into the balloon, the folded balloon including a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart first layered portions and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart second layered portions, the first layered portions and the second layered portions circumferentially alternating with one another so that one of the first layered portions is positioned circumferentially between each successive pair of second layered portions, the first layered portions of the folded balloon possessing a total number of the stacked layers and thereby define a plurality of maximum-layered portions, and the second layered portions being different from and less than the total number of stacked layers of the folded balloon and thereby define a plurality of minimum-layered portions; and a stent mounted on the balloon in the folded configuration and encircling the outer circumference of the folded balloon, the stent including a plurality of wavy-shaped annular members, the wavy-shaped annular members being axially arranged, with axially adjacent annular members connected to one another by at least one connecting part, all of the connecting parts of the stent being arranged on the outer circumference of the balloon such that each connecting part is positioned at and extends along one of the minimum-layered portions of the folded balloon such that an outer diameter of the stent is minimized.