Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A system for placing a stent in a vessel of the human body comprising: a catheter having a distal section with a balloon located at the distal section; a balloon expandable stent mounted onto the inflatable balloon, the stent being adapted for implantation into a vessel of the human body; and an unprotected guide wire attached to and extending distally from the distal section of the balloon catheter.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
68 words
A system for placing a stent in a vessel of the human body comprising: a catheter having a distal section with a balloon located at the distal section; a balloon expandable stent mounted onto the inflatable balloon, the stent being adapted for implantation into a vessel of the human body; and an unprotected guide wire attached to and extending distally from the distal section of the balloon catheter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The stent delivery system of claim 1 wherein the guide wire is substantially straight over its entire length.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The stent delivery system of claim 1 wherein the guide wire has a distal section that is substantially curved.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The stent delivery system of claim 1 wherein the guide wire has an outside diameter that is less than 0.035 inches.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The stent delivery system of claim 1 wherein the length of the guide wire extending in a bare manner beyond the distal section of the balloon catheter is less than 5 cm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The stent delivery system of claim 1 wherein the stent is mechanically crimped onto the balloon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The stent delivery system of claim 1 wherein the stent is nested onto the balloon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The stent delivery system of claim 1 wherein the balloon has a longitudinal axis and the balloon is wrapped in a spiral around the balloon's longitudinal axis prior to placement of the stent onto the balloon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The stent delivery system of claim 1 wherein the balloon is folded with a multiplicity of wings as is conventional for a balloon of a balloon angioplasty catheter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The stent delivery system of claim 1 wherein the balloon has a proximal section that has the shape of a frustum of a cone when the balloon is fully inflated and the catheter includes a proximal elastic band that is wrapped around the proximal section of the balloon prior to balloon inflation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The stent delivery system of claim 1 wherein the balloon has a distal section that has the shape of a frustum of a cone when the balloon is fully inflated and the catheter includes a distal elastic band that is wrapped around the distal section of the balloon prior to balloon inflation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The stent delivery system of claim 1 wherein the balloon has a proximal end that is attached to a central tube having a central lumen through which balloon inflation fluid can be injected or removed to respectively inflate or deflate the balloon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stent delivery system of claim 1 wherein the balloon overhang length beyond each edge of the stent is less than 1.0 mm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stent delivery system of claim 1 wherein the balloon overhang length beyond each edge of the stent is less than 0.5 mm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The stent delivery system of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal length of the stent when deployed is approximately equal to the length of the cylindrical section of the inflated balloon thereby resulting in an approximately zero length of balloon overhang beyond the edges of the stent.