Patent ID: 8551152
Filing Date: 2013-10-08
Classification: A61F,A61L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A drug-eluting stent delivery system, comprising: a catheter; a balloon disposed about at least a portion of the catheter, the balloon having a first end and a second end and the second end and a working length therebetween, the first end and the second end each including a tapered portion, each tapered portion being attached to the catheter, the balloon being inflatable from a collapsed configuration, wherein the working length and at least a portion of each tapered portion are substantially flattened, to an inflated configuration; and a drug-eluting stent configured to contact a wall of a blood vessel so as to maintain the patency of the vessel, the drug-eluting stent having a first end and a second end, at least one of the first end and the second end including a tapered portion having a decrease in strut thickness, wherein the drug-eluting stent is disposed over the balloon such that the at least one of the first end and the second end having the tapered portion extends onto the corresponding tapered portion of the balloon, and wherein the drug-eluting stent loaded with a therapeutic drug; wherein both the first end and the second end of the drug-eluting stent have a tapered portion; and wherein the tapered portions of the drug-eluting stent have a radial thickness in the range of 25 microns to 200 microns.