Axially compressible flared stents and apparatus and methods for delivering them

Abstract

A stent includes a flaring portion and a main portion connected to the flaring portion. The main portion includes a plurality of bands of cells spaced apart axially from one another, adjacent bands of cells being intermittently connected to one another. During use, the stent is introduced into a main vessel in a contracted condition and positioned with the flaring portion adjacent an ostium. The flaring portion is flared, and the stent is advanced at least partially into the ostium. The stent is expanded further such that the main portion expands within the branch body lumen and/or the flaring portion expands adjacent the ostium. The main portion compresses axially during at least one of the steps when the stent is expanded, which may enhance conformance of the stent relative to the ostium and/or enhance reinforcement of the ostium.

Description

[0001] This application claims benefit of provisional application Ser. Nos. 60 / 710,521, filed Aug. 22, 2005, 60 / 727,703, filed Oct. 17, 2005, 60 / 757,600, filed Jan. 9, 2006, 60 / 743,880, filed Mar. 28, 2006, and 60 / 745,177, filed Apr. 19, 2006, the entire disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to endoluminal prostheses or “stents,” and, more particularly, to flared stents, and to apparatus and methods for delivering such stents into an ostium of a blood vessel or other body lumen. BACKGROUND [0003] Tubular endoprosthesis or “stents” have been suggested for dilating or otherwise treating stenoses, occlusions, and / or other lesions within a patient's vasculature or other body lumens. For example, a self-expanding stent may be maintained on a catheter in a contracted condition, e.g., by an overlying sheath or other constraint, and delivered into a target location, e.g., a stenosis within a ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020] Initially, the stent may be introduced into the main body lumen with the stent in a contracted condition, and positioned such that the first end portion is disposed adjacent the ostium and the second portion is disposed within the branch body lumen. The first end portion may be flared, thereby causing first struts of the first set of cells to move from a substantially axial orientation towards a radial and partial circumferential orientation and causing second struts of the second set of cells to move from a substantially axial orientation towards a radial orientation. Optionally, the stent may be further positioned, the flared first end portion facilitating positioning relative to the ostium. The stent may then be expanded such that the second portion expands within the branch body lumen, and the first and second struts move towards a more circumferential orientation, thereby securing the stent relative to the ostium.

[0021] In accordance with another embodiment, a method is provided for expanding a stent that includes providing a stent on one or more expandable members, the stent including first and second ends, a first portion and a second portion connected to the first flaring portion. An expandable member is expanded to flare the first portion, the second portion having sufficient stiffness to resist expansion when the first portion is flared. An expandable member is expanded to expand the second portion to an enlarged condition, thereby causing the first portion to exp

Problems solved by technology

FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 show attempts to deploy flared stents within various ostia hav

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