Noncylindrical Drug Eluting Stent for Treating Vascular Bifurcations

Abstract

A device and method for treating pathological narrowing of fluid-carrying conduits of the human body (such as blood vessels) in an area of a bifurcation is disclosed. In particular, a stent delivery system configured to carry one or more of a pair of dissimilar stents. At least one of the stents is particularly suited for treating a widened portion of a blood vessel immediately proximal to a bifurcation. The stent delivery system can also include a handpiece adapted to selectively deliver the stents.

1 . A deployment system for treating a bifurcation of a main vessel and a first and second branch vessels, comprising:
 an elongate, flexible body, having an end and a downstream end;   a first stent carried by the downstream end of the body;   a drug, releasably carried by the stent;   a releasable restraint, for retaining the stent on the flexible body;   wherein the downstream end of the stent is larger in diameter than the upstream end of the stent in an unconstrained expanded configuration.   
     
     
         2 . A deployment system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a guidewire lumen extending axially through at least a portion of the flexible body. 
     
     
         3 . A deployment system as in  claim 2 , wherein the guidewire lumen has a proximal access port and a distal access port, and the proximal access port is positioned along the flexible body, spaced distally apart from the proximal end of the flexible body. 
     
     
         4 . A deployment system as in  claim 2 , wherein the guidewire lumen has a proximal access port and a distal access port, and the proximal access port is positioned at the proximal end of the flexible body. 
     
     
         5 . A deployment system as in  claim 1 , wherein the releasable restraint comprises an axially movable control element extending along the length of the flexible body. 
     
     
         6 . A deployment system as in  claim 1 , wherein the releasable restraint comprises a tubular sheath. 
     
     
         7 . A deployment system as in  claim 1 , wherein the releasable restraint comprises a pull wire. 
     
     
         8 . A deployment system as in  claim 1 , wherein the releasable restraint comprises a dissolvable media. 
     
     
         9 . A deployment system as in  claim 1 , wherein the releasable restraint comprises a plurality of expansion limiting bands. 
     
     
         10 . A deployment system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a second stent carried by the distal end of the flexible body. 
     
     
         11 . A deployment system as in  claim 10 , wherein the first and second stents have different expanded geometries from each other. 
     
     
         12 . A deployment system as in  claim 11 , wherein the second stent has a substantially cylindrical unconstrained expanded configuration. 
     
     
         13 . A deployment system as in  claim 10 , wherein the first and second stents are carried by the catheter such that release of the stents from the catheter causes the downstream end of the first stent and an upstream end of the second stent, as implanted, to be separated by a distance of no more than about 4 mm. 
     
     
         14 . A deployment system as in  claim 1 , wherein the expanded diameter of the first stent tapers radially outwardly in the distal direction. 
     
     
         15 . A deployment system as in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one marker on the downstream end. 
     
     
         16 . A deployment system as in  claim 1 , wherein the stent is configured for delivery to a bifurcation of the main coronary vessel such that the downstream end, when delivered, communicates with both the first and second branch vessels. 
     
     
         17 . A deployment system as in  claim 1 , wherein the stent is self expandable. 
     
     
         18 . A deployment system as in  claim 1 , wherein the stent has a single central lumen.