Balloon catheter for multiple adjustable stent deployment

Abstract

A catheter configured to carry one or more stents and having an inflatable balloon for expanding a stent surrounding the balloon. The catheter is characterized in having a positioner for moving the one or more stents relative to the balloon from a first position in which the stent does not surround the balloon to a second position in which the stent surrounds the balloon. Also disclosed is a method for deploying a stent at a desired location in the vascular system.

1 . 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, wherein a first stent having a first length surrounds the balloon;    expanding the first stent along the first lesion;    repositioning the catheter proximate or adjacent to a second lesion;    positioning a second stent having a second length to surround the balloon, the second length being different than the first length;    expanding the second stent along the second lesion.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein positioning comprises urging a sliding element along the catheter to push the plurality of stents distally along the catheter so as to move the second stent adjacent to the balloon into a position in which it surrounds the balloon.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein urging the sliding element comprises urging a proximal end of a wire attached to the sliding element and extending longitudinally along a length of the catheter such that the sliding element slides along the catheter in response to a longitudinal movement of the wire.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein positioning comprises moving the plurality of stents simultaneously along the catheter.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein positioning comprises urging a carriage upon which the plurality of stents are positioned distally along the catheter so as to move the second stent adjacent to the balloon into a position in which it surrounds the balloon.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein prior to expanding the first stent, slidably adjusting a constraining member over the balloon to constrain a portion of the balloon from expanding.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein expanding the first stent comprises expanding the balloon within the first stent such that a length of the expanded balloon is coextensive with a length of the first stent.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein prior to expanding the first stent, selecting the first stent to have a length coextensive with a length of the first lesion.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein prior to expanding the first stent, separating the first stent to be expanded from the second stent adjacent to the first stent via a separating mechanism which is movable relative to the balloon.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein repositioning the catheter comprises repositioning the plurality of stents proximate or adjacent to the second lesion at a location separate from the first lesion.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein prior to expanding the second stent, adjusting an expandable portion of the balloon such that the balloon expands along a length which is coextensive with a length of the second stent.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein prior to expanding the second stent, slidably adjusting a constraining member over the balloon to constrain a portion of the balloon from expanding.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein expanding the second stent comprises expanding the balloon within the second stent such that a length of the expanded balloon is coextensive with a length of the second stent.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein prior to expanding the second stent, selecting the second stent to have a length coextensive with a length of the second lesion.  
   
   
       15 . 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, wherein one or more stents having a first total length are positioned proximate or adjacent to the first lesion;    expanding the one or more stents having the first total length along the first lesion via the balloon;    repositioning the catheter with respect to a second lesion;    positioning at least one or more additional stents having a second total length which is different from the first total length are positioned proximate or adjacent to the second lesion;    expanding the one or more additional stents along the second lesion via the balloon.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein positioning comprises urging a sliding element along the catheter to push the plurality of stents distally along the catheter so as to move the plurality of stents adjacent to the balloon into a position in which at least the one or more stents having the second total length surrounds the balloon.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein urging the sliding element comprises urging a proximal end of a wire attached to the sliding element and extending longitudinally along a length of the catheter such that the sliding element slides along the catheter in response to a longitudinal movement of the wire.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein positioning comprises moving the plurality of stents simultaneously along the catheter.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein positioning comprises urging a carriage upon which the plurality of stents are positioned distally along the catheter so as to move the one or more stents having the second total length adjacent to the balloon into a position in which it surrounds the balloon.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein prior to expanding the one or more stents, slidably adjusting a constraining member over the balloon to constrain a portion of the balloon from expanding.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 15  wherein expanding the one or more stents having the first total length comprises expanding the balloon within the one or more stents such that a length of the expanded balloon is coextensive with a length of the one or more stents.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 15  wherein prior to expanding the one or more stents, selecting the one or more stents to have a length coextensive with a length of the first lesion.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 15  wherein prior to expanding the one or more stents, separating the one or more stents to be expanded from the one or more additional stents adjacent to the one or more stents via a separating mechanism which is movable relative to the balloon.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 15  wherein repositioning the catheter comprises repositioning the plurality of stents proximate or adjacent to the second lesion at a location separate from the first lesion.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 15  wherein prior to expanding the one or more additional stents, adjusting an expandable portion of the balloon such that the balloon expands along a length which is coextensive with a length of the one or more additional stents.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 15  wherein prior to expanding the one or more additional stents, slidably adjusting a constraining member over the balloon to constrain a portion of the balloon from expanding.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 15  wherein expanding the one or more additional stents comprises expanding the balloon within the one or more additional stents such that a length of the expanded balloon is coextensive with a length of the one or more additional stents.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 15  wherein prior to expanding the one or more additional stents, selecting the one or more additional stents to have a length coextensive with a length of the second lesion.