Patent ID: 6962602

Claim:
A method of deploying a stent apparatus in a bifurcated vessel, the bifurcated vessel comprises a main vessel having an ostium leading into a branch vessel, the method comprising: providing a main stent, which has a proximal end, a distal end and a side opening between the proximal and distal ends, on a first catheter, wherein the main stent comprises a tubular member having a substantially constant diameter along its longitudinal axis; advancing said first catheter via a first guidewire into the main vessel so that said side opening is substantially aligned with the ostium leading into the branch vessel; expanding said main stent in its position; removing said first catheter; advancing via a second guidewire disposed in the branch vessel a second catheter, having a flareable stent in a state of compression, wherein said flareable stent comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein said proximal end comprises a flareable portion initially in an unflared configuration; positioning said second catheter within the branch vessel so that said proximal end of said flareable stent extends into the main vessel; positioning said flareable stent with respect to the ostium by at least allowing said flareable portion in said unflared configuration to be flared radially; and expanding said flareable stent in the branch vessel to deploy said flareable stent in its position within the branch vessel.