Patent ID: 8142487

Claim:
A method of delivering a stent system, comprising: intravascularly advancing a catheter proximate or adjacent to a first lesion, the catheter having a distal end, an inflatable balloon near the distal end, and a plurality of stents spaced from each other by separating rings, wherein the plurality of stents has a at least a first stent having a first length which is slidably positionable into direct contact upon the balloon and a second stent having a second length which is also slidably positionable into direct contact upon the balloon, the second length being different than the first length, wherein the plurality of stents including the first stent and the second stent can be arranged in any order along the catheter; sliding the first stent into direct contact upon the balloon via a positioner which is slidable longitudinally along the catheter independently of the plurality of stents; separating the first stent from the second stent such that the first stent is positioned upon the balloon; expanding the first stent along the first lesion while a remainder of the plurality of stents including the second stent is retained unexpanded on the catheter; repositioning the catheter proximate or adjacent to a second lesion; positioning the second stent having the second length to surround the balloon; expanding the second stent along the second lesion.