RADIALLY EXPANDABLE STENT FEATURING COVERING TIP PRIMARILY FOR BIFURCATED ARTERY ANEURYSMS

摘要

A radially expandable stent (10) is provided with a generally cylindrical contour between a distal end (12) and a proximal end (14). The distal end (12) includes a covering tip (60) attached to other portions of the stent (10) through an extension (50) spanning a gap (50) near the distal end (12) of the stent (10). The covering tip (60) extends partially away from the cylindrical contour of the stent (10) and toward a center line of the stent (10). The covering tip (60) includes a surface layer (70) which precludes blood and other fluid flow through the covering tip (60). The stent (10) is formed with a material having a bias towards a final expanded configuration with the covering tip (60) extending away from the cylindrical contour towards the centerline C of the stent (10). The stent (10) is sufficiently flexible so that the covering tip (60) can be initially oriented axially when in an original collapsed configuration and then angled towards the centerline C when the stent (10) is radially expanded. The covering tip (60) can be oriented blocking a neck N of an aneurysm X which faces a blood vessel or other body lumen L. The stent (10) radially expands to engage walls W of the body lumen L with the covering tip (60) blocking the neck N of the aneurysm X so that expansion or rupture of the aneurysm X is precluded.