Patent ID: 7273492

Claim:
A method for delivering an intravascular stent in an artery having vulnerable plaque, comprising: providing an intravascular stent delivery assembly comprising: an elongated catheter having an expandable member for expanding a stent and a stent removably mounted on the expandable member where the stent has a distal section with links and rings with both U-shaped and V-shaped undulations, the links and undulations of the distal section having first cross-sectional widths, a proximal section with links and rings with both U-shaped and V-shaped undulations, the links and undulations of the proximal section also having first cross-sectional widths and a center section with links and rings exclusively with non-overlapping V-shaped undulations, the links and undulations of the center section having second, relatively smaller cross-sectional widths and wherein the center section has a higher undulation concentration than said distal and proximal sections; advancing the stent delivery assembly into an atherosclerotic artery within the patient's body lumen; positioning the stent in the artery such that only the center section of the stent apposes and contacts a region of the artery containing vulnerable plaque; inflating the expandable member; expanding and implanting the stent in the patient's artery; deflating the expandable member; and withdrawing the stent delivery catheter assembly from the patient.