Catheter for controlled stent delivery

Abstract

A catheter having a catheter shaft and a medical balloon mounted thereon. The medical balloon having a non-inflated state and being inflatable to an inflated state. The medical balloon having a stent mounting region, with a stent being disposed about at least a portion of the stent mounting region. The stent mounting region having a middle portion, a first end portion adjacent to the middle portion and a second end portion adjacent to the middle portion. The middle portion having a middle portion diameter, the first end portion having a first end portion diameter, the second end portion having a second end portion diameter. In the non-inflated state the middle portion diameter being different from the first end portion diameter and the second end portion diameter, in the inflated state the middle portion diameter being substantially the same as the fist end portion diameter and the second end portion diameter.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
     
     
         22 . An expandable medical balloon having a body portion, cone portions and waist portions, said body portion further having a distal end, a proximal end, and a central region separating said distal end and said proximal end of said body portion of said balloon, said balloon configured and formed such that upon inflation to a first pressure said balloon exhibits a first inflation profile and upon inflation to a second pressure in excess of the first pressure said balloon exhibits a second inflation profile, 
 said central region of said body portion of said balloon in said first inflation profile having a diameter D 1 , and said proximal and distal ends of said body portion taken at a point between said central region and said cone portions having a diameter D 1 ′ different than D 1 ;    and said proximal and distal ends of said body portion taken at a point between the central region of said body portion of said balloon and said cone portions having a diameter D 2 ′ which is substantially equal to D 2  when the balloon is inflated to the second inflation profile.    
     
     
         23 . The balloon of  claim 22  wherein D 1 ′ is less than D 1  in said first inflation profile.  
     
     
         24 . The balloon of  claim 22  wherein D 1 ′ is greater than D 1  in said first inflation profile.  
     
     
         25 . The balloon of  claim 22  mounted on a catheter assembly.  
     
     
         26 . The balloon of  claim 22  having a stent mounted thereon.  
     
     
         27 . A catheter assembly comprising: 
 a) a catheter having a distal end;    b) an unexpanded inflatable balloon mounted on said catheter near the distal end of said catheter, said balloon having a body portion with a central region, a distal end and a proximal end, and cone portions and waist portions and said balloon configured and formed configured and formed such that upon inflation to a first pressure said balloon exhibits a first inflation profile and upon inflation to a second pressure in excess of the first pressure said balloon exhibits a second inflation profile, 
 said central region of said body portion of said balloon in said first inflation profile having a diameter D 1 , and said proximal and said distal ends of said body portion taken at a point between said central region and said cone portions having a diameter D 1 ′ different than D 1 ;  
 and said proximal and said distal ends of said body portion taken at a point between the central region of said body portion of said balloon and said cone portions having a diameter D 2 ′ which is substantially equal to D 2  when the balloon is inflated to the second inflation profile.  
   
     
     
         28 . The catheter assembly of  claim 27  wherein D 1 ′ is less than D 1  in said first inflation profile.  
     
     
         29 . The catheter assembly of  claim 27  wherein D 1 ′ is greater than D 1  in said first inflation profile.  
     
     
         30 . The catheter assembly of  claim 27  further comprising a stent mounted on said catheter over said balloon.