Patent ID: 8475518

Claim:
A method for implanting a stent within a vessel including vulnerable plaque, comprising: positioning a cylindrical stent in a crimped state within a lumen of a vessel having a vessel wall and near a target area including vulnerable plaque, the stent having a length and a circumference formed by cylindrical rings connected by links along a longitudinal axis of the stent, the stent further including a first region spanning an arc along the circumference and axially along the length of the stent, and a second region, excluding the first region, spanning the circumference and axially along the length of the stent, and the stent also including anchors positioned on an outer surface of the links only and within only a first transition and a second transition, the first transition and the second transition defining a border between the first region and the second region, each anchor being disposed between the first region and the second region along lines substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent; aligning the first region of the stent to substantially cover the vulnerable plaque of the vessel; visualizing the alignment of the stent within the vessel using guidance equipment; expanding the first region until nearly fully deployed and the anchors are embedded into the vessel wall proximate to and on opposite sides of the vulnerable plaque; and expanding the second region of the stent after nearly fully deploying the first region until the second region of the stent is fully deployed.