Patent ID: 6702802
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: A61F,A61M

Abstract:
A stent delivery system, comprising:a catheter having an elongated shaft with proximal and distal ends and an inner lumen extending therein, the catheter having more than one portion with different stiffness values, each portion comprising components that gradually transition the stiffness of that portion to an adjacent portion; an enlargeable member mounted on a distal shaft section proximal to the distal end which is configured for supporting a deployable prosthetic device on a receiving portion thereon, which has an interior in fluid communication with the inner lumen; and the shaft including a tubular member extending through the interior of the enlargeable member, and including at least one portion which is stiffer than a portion immediately proximal to the at least one portion of the shaft, wherein the immediately proximal portion of the shaft includes components that gradually transition the stiffness of the immediately proximal portion to the at least one portion of the shaft.