Patent ID: 6371979
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A stent delivery system for implanting a flexible, generally cylindrical, self-expanding stent, comprising:a catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter defining at least one lumen extending therethrough and having at least three longitudinally displaced openings or sets of openings extending from a lumen to the surface of the catheter; a flexible, self-expandable coiled stent in a form of a continuous helical coil with a uniform winding direction and voids defined between opposing turns of said coil, said stent having proximal and distal end sections separated by an intermediate section, said stent being wound circumferentially around said catheter defining a wound position with turns of the coil in at least a selected one of the proximal and distal sections being more closely wound with a narrower spacing between opposing turns than a winding and spacing between opposing turns in said intermediate section; said stent releasably secured to said catheter at proximal, distal and intermediate fixation points with said intermediate fixation point positioned at said intermediate section, said stent releasable from said wound position to an expanded position in a sequence with said selected one of said proximal and distal sections released from said catheter and expanded radially outward in response to said release prior to said intermediate section being released from said catheter at said intermediate fixation point.