Bifurcated axially flexible stent

Abstract

There is disclosed a method of stent placement which comprises first guiding a guidewire through the vasculature. Second, a balloon catheter which contains two guidewire lumens is strung along the guidewire into position at the bifurcation. The distal opening of the second guidewire lumen abuts the proximal end of the bifurcation. Thereafter, a second guidewire is strung through the first balloon catheter and out the distal opening of the second guidewire lumen. Thus, resident in the second bifurcation leg is the second guidewire. Then, a second standard stent delivery balloon catheter is guided along the second guidewire to a position within the bifurcation. Typically, expansion of both stents can be done one right after the other after proper placement of the first and second balloons.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A balloon catheter comprising: 
 a shaft portion having proximal and distal ends, and a guidewire lumen therethrough, said lumen having a proximal opening and a distal opening, the distal opening located at the distal end of said shaft; and    a balloon connected to said shaft at said shaft distal end, said balloon having proximal and distal ends and a first guidewire lumen therethrough, said balloon guidewire lumen in fluid communication with the guidewire lumen of said shaft, said first balloon guidewire lumen having proximal and distal openings; and    a second guidewire lumen, said second guidewire lumen having a distal opening located proximal to the distal opening of said first guidewire lumen.    
     
     
         2 . A balloon catheter comprising: 
 a shaft portion having proximal and distal ends, and a guidewire lumen therethrough, said lumen having a proximal opening and a distal opening, the distal opening located at the distal end of said shaft; and    a balloon connected to said shaft at said shaft distal end, said balloon having proximal and distal ends and a first guidewire lumen therethrough, said balloon guidewire lumen in fluid communication with the guidewire lumen of said shaft, said first balloon guidewire lumen having proximal and distal openings; and    a second guidewire lumen, said second guidewire lumen having a distal opening located proximal to the distal opening of said first guidewire lumen; and the distal opening of the second guidewire lumen contained along the length of the balloon.    
     
     
         3 . In combination: 
 a balloon catheter comprising: 
 a shaft portion having proximal and distal ends, and a guidewire lumen therethrough, said lumen having a proximal opening and a distal opening, the distal opening located at the distal end of said shaft; and  
 a balloon connected to said shaft at said shaft distal end, said balloon having proximal and distal ends and a first guidewire lumen therethrough, said balloon guidewire lumen in fluid communication with the guidewire lumen of said shaft, said first balloon guidewire lumen having proximal and distal openings; and  
 a second balloon catheter comprising;  
 a second balloon having a second guidewire lumen, said second guidewire lumen having a distal opening located proximal to the distal opening of said first guidewire lumen.  
   
     
     
         4 . In combination: 
 a balloon catheter comprising: 
 a shaft portion having proximal and distal ends, and a guidewire lumen therethrough, said lumen having a proximal opening and a distal opening, the distal opening located at the distal end of said shaft; and  
 a balloon connected to said shaft at said shaft distal end, said balloon having proximal and distal ends and a first guidewire lumen therethrough, said balloon guidewire lumen in fluid communication with the guidewire lumen of said shaft, said first balloon guidewire lumen having proximal and distal openings; and  
 a second balloon catheter comprising;  
 a second balloon having a second guidewire lumen, said second guidewire lumen having a distal opening located proximal to the distal opening of said first guidewire lumen; and  
 a stent comprising a first cylindrical form and a second cylindrical form connected thereto; said second cylindrical form placed alongside a wall portion of the first cylindrical form so that the stent forms a “Y” shaped opening through the interior portion of the stent; and said stent having a welded connection at the connection between said first and second cylinders.  
   
     
     
         5 . In combination: 
 a balloon catheter comprising: 
 a shaft portion having proximal and distal ends, and a guidewire lumen therethrough, said lumen having a proximal opening and a distal opening, the distal opening located at the distal end of said shaft; and  
 a balloon connected to said shaft at said shaft distal end, said balloon having proximal and distal ends and a first guidewire lumen therethrough, said balloon guidewire lumen in fluid communication with the guidewire lumen of said shaft, said first balloon guidewire lumen having proximal and distal openings; and  
 a second balloon having a second guidewire lumen, said second guidewire lumen having a distal opening located proximal to he distal opening of said first guidewire; and  
 a guidewire useful for passage through said catheter, said guidewire having a pre-formed curve at its tip.  
   
     
     
         6 . A guidewire useful for passage though a balloon catheter, said guidewire having a curve pre-formed at its tip.  
     
     
         7 . In combination: 
 a balloon catheter comprising: 
 a shaft portion having proximal and distal ends, and a guidewire lumen therethrough, said lumen having a proximal opening and a distal opening, the distal opening located at the distal end of said shaft; and  
 a balloon connected to said shaft at said shaft distal end, said balloon having proximal and distal ends and a first guidewire lumen therethrough, said balloon guidewire lumen in fluid communication with the guidewire lumen of said shaft, said first balloon guidewire lumen having proximal and distal openings; and  
 a second guidewire lumen, said second guidewire lumen having a distal opening located proximal to the distal opening of said first guidewire lumen; and  
 a stent comprising a first cylindrical form and second cylindrical form;  
 said second cylindrical form placed alongside a wall portion of the first cylindrical form so that the stent forms a “Y”-shaped opening through the interior portion of the stent.