Patent ID: 8318078

Claim:
A method for fabricating a balloon catheter stent deployment system, the method comprising: providing a balloon catheter comprising an inner tubular shaft disposed within an outer tubular shaft, the inner and outer shafts each having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the inner shaft extending distally beyond the distal end of the outer shaft, and an inflatable balloon having a proximal end attached to the outer shaft near the distal end thereof and a distal end attached to the inner shaft near the distal end thereof; placing a stent over the balloon so that a distal end of the stent is disposed proximally to the distal end of the balloon leaving a distal section of the balloon extending from the distal end of the stent to the distal end of the balloon uncovered by the stent, crimping the stent onto the balloon to leave the stent with an initial outer diameter, placing a stepped enclosure over the stent and balloon wherein the stepped enclosure comprising a first section having a first inner diameter and that is connected to a second section having a second inner diameter, the first inner diameter being greater than the second inner diameter, the second inner diameter being greater than the initial outer diameter of the stent but in close approximation thereto, the second section of the stepped enclosure being longer than the stent, and wherein the first section of the stepped enclosure is disposed over a proximal section of the balloon and the second section of the stepped enclosure is disposed over the stent and the distal section of the balloon uncovered by the stent, inflating the balloon so that the proximal section of the balloon inflates and engages the first section of the stepped enclosure and the stent and a portion of the balloon disposed beneath the stent and the distal section of the balloon uncovered by the stent are prevented from substantial expansion by the second section of the stepped enclosure, and the maximum outer diameter of the distal section of the balloon uncovered by the stent is no greater than the initial outer diameter of the stent, removing the balloon and stent from the stepped enclosure.