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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A stent delivery system comprising:
 a catheter having a distal end and an outer surface;   an inflatable balloon configured to expand a stent surrounding the balloon;   a plurality of stents on the outer surface of the catheter;   a separating mechanism on the outer surface of the catheter, wherein a stent to be expanded is separated from an undeployed adjacent stent via the separating mechanism; and   a positioner slidable longitudinally along the outer surface of the catheter for moving the plurality of stents relative to the balloon.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the separating mechanism is non-releasable from the distal end of the catheter. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the positioner moves independently of the plurality of stents and is configured to move the plurality of stents relative to the balloon from a first position to a second position in proximity to the distal end so that at least one of the plurality of stents surrounds the balloon. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality stents are adapted to be deployed in a blood vessel in any order. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the positioner comprises a sliding element configured to slide longitudinally along the catheter and push the plurality of stents distally along the catheter so as to move a stent adjacent to the balloon into a position in which it surrounds the balloon. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the sliding element is attached to a wire extending longitudinally along a length of the catheter and the sliding element slides along the catheter in response to a longitudinal movement of the wire. 
     
     
         7 . A stent delivery system, comprising:
 a catheter having a distal end and an outer surface;   an inflatable balloon configured to expand a stent surrounding the balloon;   a plurality of stents on the outer surface of the catheter;   a separating mechanism on the outer surface of the catheter, wherein a stent to be expanded is separated from an undeployed adjacent stent via the separating mechanism; and   a positioner slidable longitudinally along the outer surface of the catheter and adapted to engage a proximal stent of the plurality of stents to move the plurality of stents relative to the balloon from a first position to a second position in proximity to the distal end so that at least one of the plurality of stents surrounds the balloon for deployment therefrom.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the separating mechanism is non-releasable from the distal end of the catheter. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the catheter is adapted to deploy the stents in any order. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the positioner moves independently of the plurality of stents. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the positioner is attached to an elongated member extending longitudinally along a length of the catheter and the positioner slides along the catheter in response to a longitudinal movement of the elongated member. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the balloon has an expandable portion having a length that is adjustable to be coextensive with a length of at least one of the plurality of stents. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 7  wherein a length of the at least one of the plurality of stents is different than at least one other of the plurality of stents. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 7  wherein a length of the stent deployed by the catheter is selectable. 
     
     
         15 . A method of delivering a plurality of stents, comprising:
 intravascularly advancing a catheter proximate or adjacent to a lesion, the catheter having a distal end, an outer surface, an inflatable balloon, and at least a first stent and a second stent slidably positionable and in direct contact with the balloon, wherein the first stent and the second stent are positioned on the outer surface of the catheter;   separating the first stent from the second stent with a separating mechanism on the outer surface of the catheter; and   expanding the balloon to expand the first stent at the lesion while the second stent is retained unexpanded on the outer surface of the catheter.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  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. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  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 portion of the lesion. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein prior to expanding the balloon to expand the first stent, moving the first stent with a positioner, wherein the positioner is slidable longitudinally along the outer surface of the catheter. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  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. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising sliding the second stent toward the distal end so that the second stent is positioned in direct contact upon the balloon;
 repositioning the catheter proximate or adjacent the lesion; and 
 expanding the balloon to expand the second stent at the lesion.