Custom-length stent delivery system with independently operable expansion elements

Abstract

A stent delivery system for delivering a plurality of stent segments to at least one treatment site includes a catheter shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a plurality of expandable members arranged axially along the catheter shaft near the distal end, a plurality of stent segments, and a selecting mechanism adapted for selecting one or more expandable members for expansion. Each expandable member is expandable independently of at least one other expandable member, and each expandable member has at least one stent segment positioned on it. One or more of the expandable members may be selectively expanded to deploy the one or more stent segments positioned thereon at the treatment site.

1 . A stent delivery system for delivering a plurality of stent segments to at least one treatment site, the system comprising:
 an outer shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, a central lumen extending therebetween and a plurality of apertures in communication with the central lumen;   a plurality of expandable members arranged axially along the outer shaft near the distal end, wherein each expandable member is in fluid communication with the central lumen and wherein each aperture is in communication with at least one of the expandable members;   a plurality of stent segments, each expandable member having at least one stent segment positioned thereon, wherein one or more of the stent segments may be deployed independently of one or more other of the stent segments;   an inner shaft slidably disposed in the central lumen; and   a selecting mechanism adapted for selecting one or more expandable members for expansion independently of the other expandable members, the selecting mechanism comprising an isolating member coupled with a slidable tubular member disposed over the inner shaft, the isolating member having a first axially slidable seal movably disposed in the outer shaft for isolating at least a first of the apertures from at least one other of the apertures, wherein an inflation lumen is defined by the annular space between the inner shaft and the slidable tubular member, the inflation lumen in communication with the central lumen and adapted to provide an inflation fluid to the plurality of expandable members.   
   
   
       2 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein each expandable member is expandable independently of at least one other expandable member. 
   
   
       3 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the inner shaft comprises a guidewire lumen adapted to slidably receive a guidewire. 
   
   
       4 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein each stent segment is crimped onto one of the expandable members so as to not be axially slidable along the expandable members. 
   
   
       5 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein each stent segment is axially slidable along the expandable members. 
   
   
       6 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the first axially slidable seal is coupled near a distal end of the slidable tubular member. 
   
   
       7 . A system as in  claim 6 , wherein the slidable tubular member is disposed within the central lumen. 
   
   
       8 . A system as in  claim 1 , further including a second isolating member for isolating a second aperture from at least one other aperture. 
   
   
       9 . A system as in  claim 1 , further including at least a first axially movable sheath disposed over at least some of the expandable members and some of the stent segments. 
   
   
       10 . A system as in  claim 9 , further including at least a second axially movable sheath disposed over part of the outer shaft, the expandable members and the stent segments, wherein the first sheath is disposed proximally along the catheter shaft relative to the second sheath, and wherein the first and second sheaths are adapted to allow one or more selected stent segments to be deployed between the sheaths. 
   
   
       11 . A system as in  claim 10 , wherein the second sheath is movable distally to allow for deployment of at least one stent segment and proximally to cover one or more of the expandable members from which at least one stent segment has been deployed. 
   
   
       12 . A system as in  claim 9 , further including a pusher tube slidably disposed within the sheath and proximal to a proximal-most stent segment to advance or maintain an axial position of the stent segments relative to the expandable members.