Patent ID: 8057526
Filing Date: 2011-11-15
Classification: A61F,A61L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of making a drug-eluting stent delivery system for the treatment of edge restenosis in a blood vessel, comprising: providing a tubular catheter; positioning a balloon about at least a portion of the catheter, the balloon having a first end and a 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; providing 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, the first end and the second end each including a tapered portion; loading the drug-eluting stent with a therapeutic drug; and positioning the drug-eluting stent over the balloon such that at least a portion of the first end and the second end of the balloon are covered by the tapered portion of the drug-eluting stent; wherein the balloon in a collapsed configuration includes a taper angle of 2 degrees to 30 degrees as measured from lateral edges of the balloon relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter.