RADIALLY-EXPANDABLE STENT AND DELIVERY SYSTEM
The present invention provides radially-expandable stents that, in various embodiments, may reduce the bending stresses/strains associated with the compressed state of self-expanding stents and/or may prevent longitudinal expansion/contraction of radially expandable stents between the compressed and expanded states. In addition, stents according to the present invention preferably exhibit increased longitudinal flexibility in both the compressed and expanded states. Furthermore, stents that include circumferential support sections with varying longitudinal lengths and/or varying unrestrained expanded diameters are also disclosed. Also disclosed are stents that provide controllable expansive force profiles. The present invention also includes delivery systems in which threading of the guidewire through the delivery system may be simplified. In addition, the delivery systems according to the present invention may also incorporate a balloon to assist in radially expanding the stent and/or seating of the stent in the lumen during deployment without removing the stent delivery catheter. Further, the delivery systems may also include a support tube at the proximal end to assist in fixing the position of the stent relative to a guide catheter during deployment of the stent.