Method and apparatus for stenting

Abstract

A method and an 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 enhance aspects of fluid flow through a treatment site.

1 - 60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 . An expandable medical device for implantation in a body, the device having an envelope and a longitudinal axis along a direction of blood flow, the device comprising:
 a first device segment;   a second device segment; and   a third device segment,   wherein the first device segment is longitudinally separated from the third device segment, the first device segment directly connected around the circumference to the second device segment, the third device segment directly connected around the circumference to the second device segment,   wherein the first device segment has a tapered configuration in an expanded state of the device, the second device segment has a tapered configuration in an expanded state of the device, and the third device segment has a tapered configuration in an expanded state of the device,   wherein the second device segment diverges from the tapered configuration of the first device segment, and the third device segment diverges from the tapered configuration of the second device segment.   
     
     
         62 . The expandable medical device of  claim 61 , wherein the first device segment comprises an opening having a first diameter and the third device segment comprises an opening having a second diameter. 
     
     
         63 . The expandable medical device of  claim 62 , wherein the first diameter and the second diameter are the same. 
     
     
         64 . The expandable medical device of  claim 62 , wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter. 
     
     
         65 . The expandable medical device of  claim 61 , wherein the largest cross-sectional areas of the first device segment and the second device segment are different. 
     
     
         66 . The expandable medical device of  claim 61 , wherein the device is self-expanding. 
     
     
         67 . The expandable medical device of  claim 61 , wherein the device is balloon-expandable. 
     
     
         68 . The expandable medical device of  claim 61 , wherein a cross-section of any device segment in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis thereof is circular. 
     
     
         69 . The expandable medical device of  claim 61 , further comprising a means for controlling a flow of blood. 
     
     
         70 . The expandable medical device of  claim 61 , wherein the device is configured to minimize a flow disturbance in the body. 
     
     
         71 . The expandable medical device of  claim 66 , wherein the device is re-positionable after delivery.