Extendible Stent Apparatus

Abstract

A stent apparatus with at least one side opening which may further comprise an extendable stent portion laterally extending from the side opening and at least partly in registry with the wall of the side opening. Devices constructed in accordance with the invention include, singularly or in combination, a main expandable stent comprising at least one substantially circular side opening located between its proximal and distal end openings, which side opening may further comprise an expandable portion extending radially outward from the edges of the side opening; and a branch stent comprising proximal and distal end openings and which may further comprise a contacting portion at its proximal end, and which may optionally be constructed to form either a perpendicular branch or a non-perpendicular branch when inserted through a side opening of the main stent.

1 . A generally cylindrical reinforcing stent apparatus for placement in at least one bifurcated cardiac, coronary, renal, peripheral vascular, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, urinary or neurovascular system vessel or a vessel in the brain, comprising a main stent having sides extending between first and second opposing ends and at least one opening being defined in a stent side. 
     
     
         2 . The stent apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the stent comprises a self-expanding material. 
     
     
         3 . The stent apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the stent comprises a balloon-expandable material. 
     
     
         4 . The stent apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the stent is constructed of a material which is imageable. 
     
     
         5 . The stent apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least one opening further comprises an expandable portion which expands radially from the perimeter of the opening. 
     
     
         6 . The stent apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the length of the stent in its compressed state is smaller than 4 centimeters and the diameter of the stent in its compressed state is smaller than 2 centimeters. 
     
     
         7 . The stent apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the stent comprises an expandable material. 
     
     
         8 . The stent apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the length of the stent in its compressed state is smaller than 4 centimeters and the diameter of the stent in its compressed state is smaller than 2 centimeters. 
     
     
         9 . The stent apparatus of  claim 5  wherein at least a portion of the stent is constructed of a material which is imageable by x-ray or ultrasound. 
     
     
         10 . The stent apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second stent disposed at least partly within the main stent and having sides extending between proximal and distal opposing ends, wherein the second sent is a branch stent and the second branch stent being moveable and adapted to be extended in an angularly flexible fashion through at least one of said side openings of said main stent and at least partially contacting the perimeter of said side opening. 
     
     
         11 . The stent apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the second stent additionally comprises a contacting portion located at its proximal end, which contacting portion at least partially contacts the edges of said main stent side opening. 
     
     
         12 . The stent apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the stents comprise an expandable material. 
     
     
         13 . The stent apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the stents comprise a balloon-expandable material. 
     
     
         14 . The stent apparatus of  claim 10  wherein at least a portion of the stents are constructed of a material which is imageable. 
     
     
         15 . The stent apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the length of the stent apparatus in its compressed state is smaller than 4 centimeters and the diameter of the stent apparatus in its compressed state is smaller than 2 centimeters. 
     
     
         16 . A bifurcating double-stent reinforcing apparatus for intraluminal placement by catheter within a bifurcated vessel comprising first and second generally cylindrical stents, wherein the second stent is a branch stent and is located at least partly within the first stent, and having sides in each stent extending between first and second opposing ends, and at least one opening being defined in a side of the first stent and the second branch stent being moveable and adapted to be extended through at least one of said side openings of said first stent and at least partially contacting the perimeter of said side opening and extending into a vessel branch, said first and second stents each being constructed from a material which allows said stents to expand to conform to the shape of the subject vessel. 
     
     
         17 . The stent apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the second branch stent additionally comprises a proximal end and an opposing distal end, wherein the proximal end additionally comprises a contacting portion, which contacting portion is at least partially in contact with the perimeter of said first stent side opening. 
     
     
         18 . The stent apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the first stent further comprises an expandable portion which expands in a variably angled lateral manner from the perimeter of the first stent side opening. 
     
     
         19 . The stent apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the first and second stents comprise a self-expanding material. 
     
     
         20 . The stent apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the stents comprise a balloon-expandable material.