Patent ID: 6589274
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A stent delivery catheter comprising:a catheter shaft having an inflation lumen there through and a longitudinally extendable portion at a distal end thereof; an inflatable tubular balloon having first and second ends and a formed length, the balloon being mounted and wrapped around the catheter shaft surrounding the extendable portion thereof and being in communication with the inflation lumen, the balloon having a mounted length that is shorter than the formed length such that excess balloon material forms at least one circumferential fold in the balloon; a balloon expandable stent having open ends, the stent being crimped about the balloon between the ends thereof; and an elastic retention cap, the cap being fixed to the shaft adjacent the first end of the balloon, the cap extending over the first end of the balloon such that the cap lies over the stent end nearest the first end of the balloon.