Combined shaped balloon and stent protector

Abstract

A stent delivery catheter comprising a catheter shaft and balloon engaged thereto. The balloon being inflatable from a first inflation state to a first expanded state as well as to a second expanded state. The balloon having a stent mounting region for retaining and delivery of a stent therefrom, and at least one adjacent region. The stent mounting region having a first diameter and the at least one adjacent region having a second diameter. In the first inflation state the first diameter being less than the second diameter. In the first expanded state the first diameter being no greater than the second diameter. In the second expanded state the first diameter being greater than the second diameter. The stent being retained on the stent mounting region by engagement of the at least one adjacent portion and at least one retractable stent retaining sleeve.

1 - 33 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         34 . A medical balloon comprising: 
 a stent mounting region and a pair of adjacent end regions,    the balloon being inflatable from a first inflation state to a second inflation state, in the first inflation state the stent mounting region having a diameter less than that of the adjacent end regions, 
 the stent mounting region having a first rate of expansion and the at adjacent region having a second rate of expansion, the first rate of expansion being greater than the second rate of expansion, whereby when the balloon is inflated from the first inflation state to the second inflation state by a predetermined inflation pressure the diameter of the stent mounting region is at least as large as the diameter of the adjacent and regions.  
   
     
     
         35 . The medical balloon of  claim 34  wherein when the balloon is expanded from the first inflation state to the second inflation state the balloon is pressurized to a pressure sufficient to expand a stent mounted over the stent mounting region to a first stent expanded state.  
     
     
         36 . The medical balloon of  claim 34  wherein the stent mounting region has a stepped compliance curve and each of the end regions have a substantially linear compliance curve, the stepped compliance curve being characterized by a low pressure segment defined by a low inflation pressure range, said low pressure segment being generally collinear with a corresponding segment of the generally linear compliance curve of the end regions which is defined by said low inflation pressure range, a transition segment during which the balloon expands rapidly relative to the end regions and a high pressure segment during which the compliance curve of the stent mounting region expands slowly relative to the transition segment.  
     
     
         37 . The medical balloon of  claim 36  wherein when the balloon is inflated to the second inflation state the stent mounting region is expanded according to the transition segment of the stepped compliance curve.  
     
     
         38 . The medical balloon of  claim 36  wherein when the balloon is inflated to the second inflation state the stent mounting region is expanded according to the low pressure segment of the stepped compliance curve.  
     
     
         39 . The medical balloon of  claim 34  wherein the balloon further comprises a third inflation state, in the third inflation state the diameter of the stent mounting region is greater than the diameter of the at least one adjacent region.  
     
     
         40 . The medical balloon of  claim 39  wherein when the balloon is inflated to the third inflation state the stent mounting region is expanded according to a transition segment of the stepped compliance curve.  
     
     
         41 . The medical balloon of  claim 39  wherein when the balloon is inflated to the third inflation state the stent mounting region is expanded according to the high pressure segment of the stepped compliance curve.  
     
     
         42 . The medical balloon of  claim 34  wherein when the balloon is in the first inflation state the diameter of the stent mounting region is about 1.5 mm to about 2.5 mm.  
     
     
         43 . The medical balloon of  claim 34  wherein when the balloon is in the first inflation state the end regions have a diameter of about 1.65 mm to about 2.65 mm.  
     
     
         44 . The medical balloon of  claim 34  wherein when the balloon is in the second inflation state the end regions have a diameter of about 2.0 mm to about 3.75 mm.  
     
     
         45 . The medical balloon of  claim 34  wherein when the balloon is in the third inflation state the diameter of the stent mounting region is about 2.75 mm to about 4.25 mm and the end regions have a diameter of about 2.0 mm to 3.75 mm.  
     
     
         46 . The medical balloon of  claim 34  wherein the stent mounting region has a hardness value greater than that of the adjacent end regions.  
     
     
         47 . The medical balloon of  claim 34  further comprising a coating, the coating being positioned on at least a portion of the adjacent end regions of the balloon and not on the stent mounting region, the coating effective to restrict expansion of the end regions at the predetermined inflation pressure.  
     
     
         48 . The medical balloon of  claim 47  wherein the coating is selected from at least one member of the group consisting of: poly(ethylene terephthalate) (commonly referred to as PET), polyimide, thermoplastic polyimide, polyamides, polyesters, polycarbonates, polyphenylene sulfides, polypropylene and rigid polyurethanes.