Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A stent delivery system comprising: a balloon catheter having a catheter body, a balloon positioned upon said catheter body and a portion defining an inflation lumen for selectively inflating and deflating said balloon; a stent having a generally cylindrical shape and a first diameter for intraluminal delivery, said stent being expandable to a second diameter for deployment in a vessel; wherein said stent is mounted on said balloon of said balloon catheter for implantation in a vessel within the human body, said stent retained in indentations formed in said balloon, said balloon at least partially conforming to the generally cylindrical shape of said stent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
A stent delivery system comprising: a balloon catheter having a catheter body, a balloon positioned upon said catheter body and a portion defining an inflation lumen for selectively inflating and deflating said balloon; a stent having a generally cylindrical shape and a first diameter for intraluminal delivery, said stent being expandable to a second diameter for deployment in a vessel; wherein said stent is mounted on said balloon of said balloon catheter for implantation in a vessel within the human body, said stent retained in indentations formed in said balloon, said balloon at least partially conforming to the generally cylindrical shape of said stent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The stent delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the balloon adheres to the stent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The stent delivery system according to claim 1 wherein said stent is crimped onto said balloon to have an interior diameter D i and wherein portions of said balloon protrude to have a diameter greater than D i .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stent delivery system according to claim 1 further comprising at least one retainer means for facilitating delivery of said stent for implantation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The stent delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the balloon forms the at least on retainer means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The stent delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the stent comprises at least two connected members each having a plurality of substantially straight sections connected by axial bends.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The stent delivery system according to claim 6 wherein the balloon defines a number of wings selected relative to a number of axial bends of the stent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The stent delivery system according to claim 7 wherein the balloon defines a number of wings selected relative to a number of axial bends of the stent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The stent delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the balloon defines at least three wings surrounding the balloon catheter for substantially symmetrical expansion of the stent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
93 words
A stent delivery system comprising: a balloon catheter having a catheter body, a balloon positioned upon said catheter body, and an inflation lumen for selectively inflating and deflating said balloon; a stent having a first diameter for intraluminal delivery, said stent being expandable to a second diameter for deployment in a vessel; wherein said stent is mounted on said balloon of said balloon catheter for implantation in a lumen within the human body; and said balloon further comprises one or more retainer means for retaining said stent on said balloon for intraluminal delivery.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
93 words
A stent delivery system comprising: a balloon catheter having a catheter body, a balloon positioned upon said catheter body, and an inflation lumen for selectively inflating and deflating said balloon; a stent having a first diameter for intraluminal delivery, said stent being expandable to a second diameter for deployment in a vessel; wherein said stent is mounted on said balloon of said balloon catheter for implantation in a lumen within the human body; and said balloon further comprises one or more retainer means for retaining said stent on said balloon for intraluminal delivery.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The stent delivery system according to claim 10 wherein the balloon adheres to the stent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The stent delivery system according to claim 10 wherein said further comprises one or more ends and wherein said one or more retainer means are in engagement with said one or more ends for intraluminal delivery of said stent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The stent delivery system according to claim 10 wherein the stent comprises at least one member in the form of a plurality of substantially straight sections connected at axial bends.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The stent delivery system according to claim 13 wherein the stent comprises at least two connected members each having a plurality of substantially straight sections connected by axial bends.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The stent delivery system according to claim 13 wherein the balloon defines a number of wings selected relative to a number of axial bends of the stent.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The stent delivery system according to claim 10 wherein the balloon defines at t least three wings surrounding the balloon catheter for substantially symmetrical expansion of the stent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The stent delivery system according to claim 10 wherein said stent is crimped onto said balloon to have an interior diameter D i and wherein said one or more retainer means defined by said balloon have a diameter greater than D i .
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
73 words
The stent delivery system according to claim 10 wherein said stent further comprises one or more ends and an interior diameter of D i when crimped upon said balloon and; at least one of said retainer means of said balloon extend beyond said one or more ends of said stent; wherein when said stent is crimped onto said balloon, said at least one retainer means has a diameter greater than D i .
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
99 words
A stent delivery system comprising: a balloon catheter having a catheter body and a balloon, and a portion defining an inflation lumen for selectively inflating and deflating said balloon; at least one stent crimped on said balloon, said at least one stent having a first diameter for intraluminal delivery and a second expanded diameter for deployment in a vessel; wherein after crimping said stent on said balloon, said balloon is caused to at least partially surround at least a portion of said at least one stent, thereby securing said at least one stent to said balloon for intraluminal delivery.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
99 words
A stent delivery system comprising: a balloon catheter having a catheter body and a balloon, and a portion defining an inflation lumen for selectively inflating and deflating said balloon; at least one stent crimped on said balloon, said at least one stent having a first diameter for intraluminal delivery and a second expanded diameter for deployment in a vessel; wherein after crimping said stent on said balloon, said balloon is caused to at least partially surround at least a portion of said at least one stent, thereby securing said at least one stent to said balloon for intraluminal delivery.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of forming a stent delivery system, the method comprising: providing a delivery catheter having a distal portion; placing a stent on the delivery catheter distal portion whereby a portion of the delivery catheter distal portion encapsulates at least a portion of the stent; and heating at least the portion of the delivery catheter distal portion encapsulating the portion of the stent.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of forming a stent delivery system, the method comprising: providing a delivery catheter having a distal portion; placing a stent on the delivery catheter distal portion whereby a portion of the delivery catheter distal portion encapsulates at least a portion of the stent; and heating at least the portion of the delivery catheter distal portion encapsulating the portion of the stent.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of claim 20 and further comprising cooling at least the encapsulating portion of the delivery catheter distal portion after heating.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method of claim 20 and further comprising providing a balloon on the delivery catheter distal portion and wherein placing the stent on the delivery catheter distal portion includes pressurizing the balloon.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of claim 20 wherein placing the stent on the delivery catheter distal portion includes compressing the stent onto the delivery catheter distal portion.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of claim 20 wherein placing the stent on the delivery catheter distal portion includes placing a sheath over the stent and over the encapsulating portion of the delivery catheter distal portion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of claim 24 wherein the sheath compresses the stent onto the delivery catheter distal portion.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of forming a stent delivery system for implanting a stent within a vessel, the method comprising: providing a delivery catheter having a distal portion; providing a balloon on the delivery catheter distal portion; placing a stent on the balloon whereby a portion of the balloon encapsulates at least a portion of the stent; and heating the portion of balloon that encapsulates at least the portion of the stent.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of forming a stent delivery system for implanting a stent within a vessel, the method comprising: providing a delivery catheter having a distal portion; providing a balloon on the delivery catheter distal portion; placing a stent on the balloon whereby a portion of the balloon encapsulates at least a portion of the stent; and heating the portion of balloon that encapsulates at least the portion of the stent.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method of claim 26 and further comprising cooling the heated portion of the balloon.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method of claim 26 wherein placing the stent includes pressurizing the balloon.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method of claim 26 wherein placing the stent includes compressing the stent onto the balloon.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of claim 26 wherein placing the stent includes placing a sheath over the stent and the balloon.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method of claim 30 wherein placing the sheath includes compressing the stent onto the balloon.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of claim 26 wherein placing the stent includes pressurizing the balloon after placing the sheath over the stent and the balloon.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for making a stent delivery catheter, the method comprising: providing a catheter having an expandable balloon portion at a distal end of the catheter; providing an expandable stent; placing the expandable stent on the expandable balloon portion so that the expandable stent contacts the expandable balloon portion with at least a portion of the expandable balloon portion encapsulating at least a portion of the expandable stent; heating the expandable balloon portion encapsulating the portion of the expandable stent; and cooling the expandable balloon portion encapsulating the expandable stent thereby to set the shape of the expandable balloon portion.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for making a stent delivery catheter, the method comprising: providing a catheter having an expandable balloon portion at a distal end of the catheter; providing an expandable stent; placing the expandable stent on the expandable balloon portion so that the expandable stent contacts the expandable balloon portion with at least a portion of the expandable balloon portion encapsulating at least a portion of the expandable stent; heating the expandable balloon portion encapsulating the portion of the expandable stent; and cooling the expandable balloon portion encapsulating the expandable stent thereby to set the shape of the expandable balloon portion.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of claim 33 wherein placing the expandable stent onto the expandable balloon portion includes applying internal pressure to the expandable balloon portion.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of claim 34 wherein placing the expandable stent onto the expandable balloon portion includes applying a sheath around the expandable stent on the expandable balloon portion.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of claim 35 wherein placing the expandable stent onto the expandable balloon portion includes applying internal pressure to the expandable balloon portion.