Stent overlap point markers

Abstract

A medical device and method of providing same, comprises a first stent body and a second stent body wherein the medical device is formed when the at least one first marker portion and the at least one second marker portion of the stent bodies are positioned in a predetermined alignment wherein the first stent body and the second stent body are aligned along substantially the same longitudinal axis and at least a portion of the first end region and at least a portion of the second end region of the respective stent bodies are overlappingly arranged to provide the medical device with a longitudinal length that is less than the sum of the first stent body length and the second stent body length.

1 - 42 . (canceled)  
   
   
       43 . A stent assembly having an assembled state and an unassembled state, the assembly comprising: 
 a plurality of substantially tubular stent bodies, each stent body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end, a second end and a length extending between the first end and the second end, the inner surface defining a lumen and the outer surface comprising a drug coating, the drug coating comprising an amount distributed along the length of the stent body, 
 in the unassembled state the stent bodies being spaced apart from one another,  
 in the assembled state the first end of one stent body being engaged to a second end of an adjacent stent body along a common longitudinal axis, the amount of the drug coating on the stent bodies having a substantially constant distribution along the length of the stent bodies in the assembled state.  
   
   
   
       44 . The stent assembly of  claim 43  wherein each stent body further comprises at least one radiopaque marker, the at least one radiopaque marker positioned at at least one of the first end and second end.  
   
   
       45 . The stent assembly of  claim 44  wherein in the assembled state the at least one radiopaque marker of the one stent is immediately adjacent to the at least one radiopaque marker of the adjacent stent.  
   
   
       46 . The stent assembly of  claim 43  wherein each stent body comprises a radius as measured from the longitudinal axis, the radius of each stent being substantially the same in the assembled state.  
   
   
       47 . The stent assembly of  claim 43  wherein the first end of the one stent body has a first magnetic polarity and the second end of the adjacent stent body has a second magnetic polarity, the first magnetic polarity being substantially opposite the second magnetic polarity.  
   
   
       48 . The stent assembly of  claim 43  wherein at least one of the stent bodies is a self-expandable stent.  
   
   
       49 . The stent assembly of  claim 43  wherein at least one of the stent bodies is at least partially constructed from a shape-memory material.  
   
   
       50 . The stent assembly of  claim 43  wherein at least one of the stent bodies is a balloon expandable stent.  
   
   
       51 . The stent assembly of  claim 43  wherein at least one of the stent bodies is a hybrid expandable stent.