Patent ID: 6645174
Filing Date: 2003-11-11
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A balloon expandable stent delivery apparatus for implanting a stent within a corporeal vessel or organ, said apparatus comprising:a catheter having an elongated tubular member with an outer surface, proximal and distal ends, and at least one lumen extending therethrough, an inflatable balloon attached to the outer surface of said catheter and having two end sections and a midsection therebetween, said balloon being in fluid communication with said at least one lumen in said catheter for inflation of said balloon; a radially expandable stent having two end sections and a midsection therebetween mounted in an unexpanded state over the midsection of said balloon between said balloon end sections; and inflation means connected to said inflation lumen for inflating said balloon from its uninflated state wherein said stent is unexpanded to its inflated state wherein said stent is expanded, wherein said ends of said balloon in its uninflated state are folded over said end sections of said stent in its unexpanded state such that said stent end sections lie between said balloon ends sections and said balloon midsection and are covered by said balloon end sections.