Patent ID: 6942681

Claim:
A method of making a stent delivery system, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a balloon catheter having a flexible shaft with proximal and distal ends, a hub affixed to the shaft proximal end, and a balloon affixed to the shaft near its distal end; (b) pleating the balloon by forming more than one longitudinal fold of balloon material, thereby forming more than one wing of balloon material; (c) wrapping the wings around the shaft; (d) placing the pleated and wrapped balloon into a mold which defines a plurality of recesses; (e) pressurizing and heating the balloon within the mold, whereby portions of the balloon expand within the recesses of the mold; thereby forming a plurality of ridges; removing the balloon with ridges from the mold; (f) placing a tubular stent with a pattern of features over the balloon with ridges; (g) aligning the stent pattern of features with the balloon ridges; and (h) crimping the stent around the balloon.