Patent ID: 7871431

Claim:
An apparatus for interventional treatment of atherosclerosis at a vascular bifurcation formed by a junction of a branch vessel and a main vessel, the apparatus comprising: structure for receiving a first guidewire positioned in the main vessel and a second guidewire positioned in the branch vessel, an exit for the second guidewire located in a central section of the structure; a first balloon portion secured to the structure so a proximal end is located adjacent the exit; a second balloon portion secured to the structure so a distal end is located adjacent the exit on a side of the exit opposite the first balloon portion; an annular gap defined longitudinally between the proximal end of the first balloon portion and the distal end of the second balloon portion, the annular gap at a radially outermost location relative to the structure having a longitudinal width that is equal to or less than a width of the annular gap at a radially innermost location relative to the structure, the radially outermost and radially innermost locations being radially separated by a gap height, the gap height being larger than a longitudinal axial length of the annular gap measured at a radial midpoint of the first and second balloon portions, the relationship between the gap height and the axial length of the annular gap measured at the radial midpoint of the first and second balloon portions providing the annular gap with a generally hourglass shape, the second guidewire being extendable through the annular gap; and an expandable stent mountable about the first and second balloon portions and expandable by the first and second balloon portions into engagement with the main vessel at the vascular bifurcation.