Caped stent

Abstract

An intravascular stent having a stent body and at least one cover overlying the stent body to cover the first portion of the stent body. The cover has a first region attached to the stent body and a second region unattached to the stent body. Multiple covers can be attached to the stent body in overlapping arrangement, each cover having a free unattached end. The free ends reduce the overall stiffness of the stent.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An intravascular stent comprising:
 a) a stent body having a longitudinal axis, a first portion, a second portion and a plurality of openings;   b) a first cover overlying the stent body to cover the first portion of the stent body and extending longitudinally over the first portion, the first cover having a first region and an unattached region, the unattached region having a free end, the first cover attached to the stent body at the first region;   c) a second cover overlying the stent body to cover the second portion of the stent body and extending longitudinally over the second portion, the second cover having a first region and an unattached region, the unattached region having a free end;   d) wherein the first cover overlaps the first region of the second cover and a portion of the unattached region of the second cover is not overlapped by the first cover.   
     
     
         2 . The intravascular stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the first cover overlaps the second cover such that less than a majority of the second cover is overlapped by the first cover. 
     
     
         3 . The intravascular stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the first cover overlaps the second cover such that a majority of the second cover is overlapped by the first cover. 
     
     
         4 . The intravascular stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the free ends of the first and second covers are axially spaced. 
     
     
         5 . The intravascular stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the first cover and the second cover are attached to an inner wall of the stent body. 
     
     
         6 . The intravascular stent according to claim, wherein the first cover and the second cover are attached to an outer wall of the stent body. 
     
     
         7 . The intravascular stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the stent is inserted into a body of a patient with the first and second stent covers attached to the stent body. 
     
     
         8 . The intravascular stent of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second covers are attached to an outer wall of the stent body, and the stent further comprises a second stent body positioned over the first and second covers. 
     
     
         9 . The intravascular stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second covers extend around a full 360 degrees of the stent body. 
     
     
         10 . The intravascular stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second covers extend around less than a full 360 degrees of the stent body. 
     
     
         11 . The intravascular stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second covers are each attached to the stent body at an attachment site, and the first and second covers are expandable independent of the stent body except at the attachment site. 
     
     
         12 . The intravascular stent according to  claim 1 , further comprising a third cover overlying the stent body to cover a third portion of the stent body and extending longitudinally over the third portion, the third cover having a first region, and an unattached region, the second cover overlapping a portion of the third cover so the first, second and third covers for a shingle-like arrangement. 
     
     
         13 . The intravascular stent of  claim 1 , wherein the at least part of the stent body has a hydrogel adhered thereto. 
     
     
         14 . The intravascular stent of  claim 1 , wherein the at least part of the first cover has a hydrogel adhered thereto. 
     
     
         15 . An intravascular stent comprising:
 a) a stent body having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of openings; and   b) a first cover overlying the stent body to cover a first segment of the stent body and extending longitudinally over the first segment of the stent body, the first segment having a first region and a second region;   d) wherein upon bending of the stent body, a portion of the first cover moves axially with respect to the stent body so a length of the stent body covered by the first cover is reduced along an outer curve of the stent body.   
     
     
         16 . The intravascular stent of  claim 15 , further comprising a second cover overlying the stent body to cover a second segment of the stent body, said second segment having a first region and a second region and wherein upon bending of the stent body, a portion of the second cover moves axially with respect to the stent body so a length of the stent body covered by the second cover is reduced along an outer curve of the stent body. 
     
     
         17 . The intravascular stent of  claim 16 , wherein upon bending of the stent body, a portion of the second cover lengthens relative to the stent body along an inner curve of the stent body. 
     
     
         18 . The intravascular stent according to  claim 16 , wherein the first cover and second cover are each attached to the stent body at an attachment site, and the first and second covers are expandable independent of the frame except at the attachment site. 
     
     
         19 . The intravascular stent according to  claim 15 , further comprising a third cover overlapping the second cover and the second cover is overlapped by the first cover, the first, second and third covers forming a shingle like arrangement. 
     
     
         20 . The intravascular stent according to  claim 15 , wherein the first and second stent covers are attached to the stent body prior to insertion of the stent and placement of the stent within the vessel. 
     
     
         21 . The intravascular stent of  claim 15 , wherein the at least part of one or both of the stent body or first cover has a hydrogel adhered thereto. 
     
     
         22 . An intravascular stent comprising:
 a) a stent body having a longitudinal axis, a first portion, a second portion and a plurality of openings; and   b) a first cover having an attachment end attached to the stent body and an opposing free end which is exposed, the free end movable with respect to the stent body to reduce a stiffness of the stent body.   
     
     
         23 . The intravascular stent according to  claim 22 , further comprising a second cover having an attachment end attached to the stent body and an opposing free end which is exposed and movable with respect to the stent body to reduce a stiffness of the stent body, the first and second covers arranged in a shingle-like arrangement to cover axial segments of the stent body, the first and second arranged so that the free end is not overlapped by an adjacent cover.