Patent ID: 6159238
Filing Date: 2000-12-12
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A method of stenting a bifurcation region or ostial region in a blood vessel, comprising the steps of:providing a stent having an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration, the latter having a length and a varying diameter along said length comprising a tapered tubular shaped metallic structure, said structure having a radially outward biased force and compression resistance, said force varying along said length in a predetermined manner, said tapered tubular structure having a first end region of largest diameter, a middle region of smaller diameter, and a second end region of smallest diameter, wherein said outward biased force is weaker in said first end region, stronger in said middle region than in said first region, and weaker in said second end region than in said middle region; introducing the stent into a catheter; inserting the catheter and stent into an implantation region at bifurcation or ostium of a vessel; expanding the stent to an enlarged diameter of a tapered configuration in support of the vessel wherein the aforementioned properties are exhibited, and removing the catheter leaving the stent implanted in the vessel.