Patent ID: 6402778
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: A61F,A61M

Abstract:
An assembly comprising:a) a catheter having a distal end; b) an unexpanded inflatable balloon mounted near the distal end of the catheter, the balloon having first and second end regions adhered to the catheter and an inflatable balloon body there between; and c) a hollow expandable stent having an initial stent diameter, an initial stent length and a pair of ends, the stent being mounted on the catheter over the balloon, the stent being expandable by the balloon to a second stent diameter larger than the initial diameter, the stent initial length shortening during expansion so that at said second stent diameter the stent has a second stent length shorter than said first stent length, and the balloon, when inflated at an effective inflation pressure effective to cause the stent to expand to said second diameter, hasfirst and second adjacent longitudinal stepped body portions with different diameters, the second stepped body portion diameter being greater than the first body portion diameter and having a length and position such that it does not extend beyond the ends of the stent at said second stent diameter, a first tapered diameter transition region extending from said first end region to said first stepped body portion, a second tapered transition region extending between said first and second stepped body portion and a third tapered transition region extending between the second stepped body portion and the second end region.