Patent ID: 8070789
Filing Date: 2011-12-06
Classification: A61F,A61M,H01Q

Abstract:
1. A method for delivering a prosthesis to a lesion in a body lumen, said method comprising: positioning an elongate flexible shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen therebetween adjacent the lesion, the flexible shaft having an expandable member coupled thereto and carrying a plurality of prosthetic segments near the distal end of the flexible shaft; selecting a length of the expandable member for radial expansion, wherein the selected length substantially matches lesion length; radially expanding the selected length of the expandable member from a contracted configuration to an expanded configuration while a remaining portion of the expandable member remains constrained from expansion, wherein in the expanded configuration the selected length of the expandable member engages the lesion and wherein none of the prosthetic segments are disposed over the selected length of the expandable member during radial expansion thereof, selecting a first number of the prosthetic segments for radial expansion, wherein the selected first number of prosthetic segments have a total length at least as long as the lesion length; and radially expanding the selected first number of prosthetic segments from a contracted shape to an expanded shape while a second number of the prosthetic segments remains unexpanded on the flexible shaft, wherein in the expanded shape the expanded first number of prosthetic segments engage the lesion.