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 plurality of stents, 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 at least a first stent and a second stent positionable so as to surround the balloon;    expanding the balloon to expand the first stent at the first lesion;    repositioning the catheter proximate or adjacent to a second lesion; and    expanding the balloon to expand the second stent at the second lesion,    wherein the first stent and the second stent have different lengths.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein expanding the balloon to expand the first stent comprises slidably adjusting a constraining member over the balloon to constrain a portion of the balloon from expanding such that a length of the expanded balloon is coextensive with a length of the first stent.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein prior to expanding the balloon to expand the first stent, selecting the first stent to have a length coextensive with a length of the first lesion.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein prior to expanding the balloon to expand 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.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein expanding the balloon to expand the first stent further comprises slidably urging a sliding element along the catheter to push at least the first and second stents distally along the catheter so as to move the first stent adjacent to the balloon into a position in which it surrounds the balloon.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  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.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein slidably urging comprises urging a carriage upon which at least the first and second stents are positioned distally along the catheter so as to move the first stent adjacent to the balloon into a position in which it surrounds the balloon.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein repositioning the catheter comprises repositioning at least the first and second stents proximate or adjacent to the second lesion at a location separate from the first lesion.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein prior to expanding the balloon to expand 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.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein prior to expanding the balloon to expand the second stent, slidably adjusting a constraining member over the balloon to constrain a portion of the balloon from expanding.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein expanding the balloon to expand 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.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein prior to expanding the balloon to expand the second stent, selecting the second stent to have a length coextensive with a length of the second lesion.  
   
   
       13 . A method of delivering a plurality of stents, 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, a first stent surrounding the balloon, and a second stent proximal to the first stent;    expanding the balloon to expand the first stent at the first lesion;    sliding the second stent toward the distal end so that the second stent surrounds the balloon;    repositioning the catheter proximate or adjacent to a second lesion; and    expanding the balloon to expand the second stent at the second lesion.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein intravascularly advancing comprises directly surrounding the balloon with the first stent such that the first stent overlays the balloon without an intervening member.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein expanding the balloon to expand the first stent comprises slidably adjusting a constraining member over the balloon to constrain a portion of the balloon from expanding such that a length of the expanded balloon is coextensive with a length of the first stent.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein prior to expanding the balloon to expand the first stent, selecting the first stent to have a length coextensive with a length of the first lesion.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein prior to expanding the balloon to expand 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.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein sliding the second stent comprises urging a sliding element along the catheter to push at least the second stent distally along the catheter so as to move the second stent adjacent to the balloon into a position in which it surrounds the balloon.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  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.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein urging the sliding element comprises urging a carriage upon which at least the second stent is 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.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 13  wherein repositioning the catheter comprises repositioning the second stent proximate or adjacent to the second lesion at a location separate from the first lesion.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 13  wherein prior to expanding the balloon to expand 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.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 13  wherein prior to expanding the balloon to expand the second stent, slidably adjusting a constraining member over the balloon to constrain a portion of the balloon from expanding.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 13  wherein expanding the balloon to expand 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.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 13  wherein prior to expanding the balloon to expand the second stent, selecting the second stent to have a length coextensive with a length of the second lesion.  
   
   
       26 . A method of delivering a plurality of stents, comprising: 
 intravascularly advancing a catheter proximate or adjacent to a first lesion, the catheter carrying a plurality of stents;    expanding at least one of the plurality of stents at the first lesion while at least a second stent is retained unexpanded on the catheter; and    removing the catheter with the second stent from the first lesion;    wherein the at least one stent has a deployed length when expanded greater than the length of the second stent retained on the catheter.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein expanding at least one of the plurality of stents comprises slidably adjusting a constraining member over the balloon to constrain a portion of the balloon from expanding such that a length of the expanded balloon is coextensive with a length of the at least one stent.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein prior to expanding, selecting the at least one stent to have a length coextensive with a length of the first lesion.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein prior to expanding, separating the at least one stent from the second stent via a separating mechanism which is movable relative to the balloon.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 26  wherein sliding the second stent comprises urging a sliding element along the catheter to push at least the second stent distally along the catheter so as to move the second stent adjacent to the balloon into a position in which it surrounds the balloon.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30  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.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein urging the sliding element comprises urging a carriage upon which at least the second stent is 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.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising expanding the balloon to expand the second stent such that a length of the expanded balloon is coextensive with a length of the second stent.  
   
   
       34 . A method of delivering a plurality of stents, comprising: 
 positioning a catheter in a vessel having a first lesion and a second lesion, the catheter having an inner tube, a distal tip, and a plurality of stents over the inner tube proximal to the distal tip;    advancing the catheter so that the distal tip is distal to the first lesion;    expanding at least one of the plurality of stents at the first lesion while at least a second stent of the plurality of stents is retained unexpanded on the catheter, the distal tip being maintained in a stationary position distal to the first lesion while the at least one stent is expanded;    repositioning the catheter so that the distal tip is distal to a second lesion spaced apart from the first lesion; and    expanding at least the second stent at the second lesion, the distal tip being maintained in a stationary position distal to the second lesion while the second stent is expanded.    
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein expanding at least one of the plurality of stents comprises inflating a balloon to reconfigure the at least one stent from a low-profile configuration to an expanded configuration for placement against the first lesion.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 34  wherein expanding at least one of the plurality of stents comprises slidably adjusting a constraining member over a balloon to constrain a portion of the balloon from expanding such that a length of the expanded balloon is coextensive with a length of the at least one of the plurality of stents.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 34  wherein prior to expanding at least one of the plurality of stents, selecting the at least one of the plurality of stents to have a length coextensive with a length of the first lesion.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 34  wherein prior to expanding at least one of the plurality of stents, separating the at least one of the plurality of stents to be expanded from the second stent via a separating mechanism which is movable relative to the balloon.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 34  wherein repositioning the catheter comprises repositioning the second stent proximate or adjacent to the second lesion at a location separate from the first lesion.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 34  wherein expanding at least the second stent comprises inflating a balloon to reconfigure the second stent from a low-profile configuration to an expanded configuration for placement against the second lesion.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 34  wherein prior to expanding at least the second stent, adjusting an expandable portion of a balloon such that the balloon expands along a length which is coextensive with a length of the second stent.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 34  wherein expanding at least the second stent comprises expanding a balloon within the second stent such that a length of the expanded balloon is coextensive with a length of the second stent.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 34  wherein prior to expanding at least the second stent, selecting the second stent to have a length coextensive with a length of the second lesion.