Occlusal stent and methods for its use

A device for occluding a target area within a body passageway comprising:

• a first portion comprising a radially expandable structure extending between a first end and a second end along a longitudinal axis, the structure having a substantially symmetrical cross-section which is expandable to a size wherein at least a portion of the structure contacts a wall of the body passageway within the target area anchoring the device;
• a second portion comprising a radially expandable element which is expandable to a size wherein a least a portion of the element contacts a wall of the body passageway outside of the target area;
• a flexible portion extending between the first and second portions;
• and
• a covering which covers at least part of the expandable structure of the first portion so that the first portion occludes the body passageway within the target area.

A method of occluding a body passageway comprising:

• providing an occlusal stent comprising
• an expandable structure extending between a first end and a second end along a longitudinal axis, the structure having a substantially square shoulder near the first end, and
• a covering which covers at least a portion of the expandable structure so that the expanded device occludes the body passageway;
• and
• deploying the occlusal stent within the body passageway so that the substantially square shoulder anchors the occlusal stent within the body passageway.

A method of occluding a branched body passageway comprising:

• providing an occlusal stent comprising
• an expandable structure extending between a first end and a second end along a longitudinal axis, the structure having at least a first contact length disposed at a distance from the longitudinal axis and a second contact length disposed at a lesser distance from the longitudinal axis, at least the first contact length contacting the body passageway upon expansion of the structure therein, and
• a covering which covers at least a portion of the expandable structure so that the expanded device occludes the body passageway;
• and
• deploying the occlusal stent within the branched body passageway so that the first contact length is disposed within one branch of the body passageway and the second contact length is disposed within another branch of the body passageway.