Method and apparatus for stenting

Abstract

A method and apparatus to create a more favorable flow regime in a lumen. An artificial shape in the lumen is created to at least one of eliminate flow disturbances and enchance aspects of fluid flow through a treatment site.

1 - 60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 . A stent for implantation in a lumen of a blood vessel, having a non-uniform shape of its envelope upon expansion, where the stent comprises:
 a first and a second stent segments extending in the circumferential direction of the stent and being longitudinally offset with respect to each other;   a third stent segment configured to assume a tapered configuration in an expanded state of the stent;   a fourth stent segment connecting the first stent segment to the third stent segment;   a fifth stent segment connecting the third stent segment to the second stent segment;   wherein the fourth and fifth stent segments are configured to assume a tapered configuration in an expanded state of the stent and have diverging configurations.   
     
     
         62 . The stent of  claim 61 , wherein said stent is a self-expanding stent. 
     
     
         63 . The stent of  claim 61 , wherein first and second stent segments are provided with different cross-sectional areas as compared to one another. 
     
     
         64 . The stent of  claim 61 , wherein the first, second and third stent segments are configured such that, in an expanded state thereof, the stent is frustoconical. 
     
     
         65 . The stent of  claim 61 , wherein first and second stent segments are provided with the same cross-sectional areas as compared to one another. 
     
     
         66 . The stent of  claim 61 , wherein said stent is a balloon-expandable stent and configured to be expanded by a delivery balloon to be asymmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of said stent. 
     
     
         67 . The stent of  claim 61 , wherein said stent is a self-expanding stent having a symmetrical shape with respect to the longitudinal axis of said stent when delivered and self-expanded, and is configured to be further expanded by a balloon to be asymmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of said stent. 
     
     
         68 . The stent of  claim 61 , wherein a cross section of any stent segment of the stent in a plane normal to a longitudinal axis thereof is circular. 
     
     
         69 . A delivery balloon for deploying the stent of  claim 61 , the balloon being configured to be inflated for expanding the stent in a lumen such that, in an expanded state of the stent, the first stent segment has the first stent segment cross-sectional area, the second stent segment has the second stent segment cross-sectional area, the third stent segment having a third tapered stent configuration, the fourth stent segment having a fourth tapered stent configuration, and a fifth stent segment having a fifth tapered stent configuration. 
     
     
         70 . The balloon of  claim 69 , wherein the balloon includes:
 a first balloon segment configured to have a first balloon segment cross-sectional area in an inflated state of the balloon for expanding the first stent segment to the first stent segment cross-sectional area;   a second balloon segment longitudinally offset with respect to the first balloon segment and configured to have a second balloon segment cross-sectional area in an inflated state of the balloon for expanding the second stent segment to the second stent segment cross-sectional area;   a third balloon segment configured to assume a tapered balloon segment configuration in an inflated state of the balloon for expanding the third stent segment to a third tapered stent configuration;   a fourth balloon segment configured to assume a tapered balloon segment configuration in an inflated state of the balloon for expanding the fourth stent segment to a fourth tapered stent configuration; and   a fifth balloon segment configured to assume a tapered balloon segment configuration in an inflated state of the balloon for expanding the fifth stent segment to a fifth tapered stent configuration.   
     
     
         71 . The balloon of  claim 70 , wherein the second balloon segment cross-sectional area is different from the first balloon segment cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         72 . The balloon of  claim 70 , wherein the second balloon segment cross-sectional area is equal to the first balloon segment cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         73 . A kit for deploying a stent comprising the stent of  claim 61 , the kit further including a delivery balloon configured to be inflated for expanding the stent in a lumen such that, in an expanded state of the stent, the first stent segment has the first stent segment cross-sectional area, the second stent segment has the second stent segment cross-sectional area, and the third, fourth and fifth stent segments assume tapered stent segment configurations. 
     
     
         74 . The kit of  claim 73 , wherein the balloon includes:
 a first balloon segment configured to have a first balloon segment cross-sectional area in an inflated state of the balloon for expanding the first stent segment to the first stent segment cross-sectional area;   a second balloon segment longitudinally offset with respect to the first balloon segment and configured to have a second balloon segment cross-sectional area in an inflated state of the balloon for expanding the second stent segment to the second stent segment;   a third balloon segment configured to assume a tapered balloon segment configuration in an inflated state of the balloon;   a fourth balloon segment configured to assume a tapered balloon segment configuration in an inflated state of the balloon and said fourth balloon segment connects the first balloon segment to the third balloon segment; and   a fifth balloon segment configured to assume a tapered balloon segment configured in an inflated state of the balloon and said fifth balloon segment connects the second balloon segment to the third balloon segment.