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 stent delivery system comprising: 
 a catheter having a distal end and an inflatable balloon near the distal end for expanding a stent surrounding the balloon;    a carriage slidably positioned along the catheter and carrying a plurality of stents;    a positioner slidable longitudinally along the catheter for moving the carriage relative to the balloon from a first position proximal to the distal end to a second position closer to the distal end in which at least one of the plurality of stents surrounds the balloon; and    wherein a length of a stent to be expanded is selectable to be coextensive with a tissue region of interest by selectively altering a position of the carriage relative to the balloon.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of stents are adapted to be deployed in a blood vessel in any order.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a separating mechanism whereby the stent to be expanded is separated from an undeployed adjacent stent.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the separating mechanism is movable relative to the balloon.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the carriage is tubularly configured.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the carriage is comprised of a flexible material.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the positioner comprises a sliding element configured to slide longitudinally along the catheter and push the carriage distally along the catheter so as to move a stent adjacent to the balloon into a position in which it surrounds the balloon.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the sliding element is attached to a wire extending longitudinally along the length of the catheter and the sliding element slides along the catheter in response to a longitudinal movement of the wire.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the positioner moves the plurality of stents simultaneously along the carriage.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the balloon has an expandable portion having a length that is adjustable to be coextensive with a length of at least one of the plurality of stents.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a length of at least one of the plurality of stents is different than at least one other of the plurality of stents.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a length of the stent to be expanded by the catheter is selectable.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a constraining member slidable over the balloon, wherein the constraining member constrains a portion of the balloon from expanding.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a stop defined proximal to the catheter distal end, wherein the stent to be expanded is inhibited by the stop from being moved distally beyond the catheter distal end.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the stop defines a shoulder which is broadened relative to the stent to be expanded.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the catheter defines a neck region between the stop and the balloon.  
   
   
       17 . A stent delivery system comprising: 
 a catheter having a distal end and an inflatable balloon near the distal end for expanding a stent surrounding the balloon;    a carriage slidably positioned along the catheter and carrying a plurality of stents;    a positioner slidable longitudinally along the catheter for moving the carriage relative to the balloon from a first position proximal to the distal end to a second position closer to the distal end in which at least one of the plurality of stents surrounds the balloon; and    wherein a first stent having a first length to be expanded is selected by altering a position of the carriage relative to the balloon, and a second stent having a second length to be expanded and having the second length different from the first length, wherein the second length is selected by further altering the position of the carriage relative to the balloon.    
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the plurality of stents are adapted to be deployed in a blood vessel in any order.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17  further comprising a separating mechanism whereby the first stent to be expanded is separated from an undeployed adjacent stent.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the separating mechanism is movable relative to the balloon.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the carriage is tubularly configured.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the carriage is comprised of a flexible material.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the positioner comprises a sliding element configured to slide longitudinally along the catheter and push the carriage distally along the catheter so as to move a stent adjacent to the balloon into a position in which it surrounds the balloon.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the sliding element is attached to a wire extending longitudinally along the length of the catheter and the sliding element slides along the catheter in response to a longitudinal movement of the wire.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the positioner moves the plurality of stents simultaneously along the carriage.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the balloon has an expandable portion having a length that is adjustable to be coextensive with a length of at least one of the plurality of stents.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 17  wherein a length of the first stent to be expanded by the catheter is selectable.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 17  further comprising a constraining member slidable over the balloon, wherein the constraining member constrains a portion of the balloon from expanding.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 17  further comprising a stop defined proximal to the catheter distal end, wherein the stent to be expanded is inhibited by the stop from being moved distally beyond the catheter distal end.  
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the stop defines a shoulder which is broadened relative to the stent to be expanded.  
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the catheter defines a neck region between the stop and the balloon.  
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the first length of the first stent is coextensive with a first lesion along a first tissue region of interest.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the second length of the second stent is coextensive with a second lesion along a second tissue region of interest which is separate from the first tissue region of interest.