Stent delivery system with stent securement means

A stent delivery system comprising:

• a catheter having a shaft and expandable inflatable means associated therewith at a distal part of the shaft, the expandable inflatable means comprising a balloon, and including mounting and retaining means for receiving a stent, the stent having a first end and a second end and a contracted state and an expanded state, to be delivered upon expansion of the inflatable means, the mounting and retaining means including at least two axially spaced mounting bodies inside the balloon and radially carried on and surrounding the shaft, the at least two mounting bodies being positioned on the shaft such that when the stent is loaded onto the inflatable means and the shaft in the stent's contracted state at least a portion of each of the at least two mounting bodies are under the stent and between the first and second ends of the stent, and
• the stent crimped on the balloon and the at least two mounting bodies such that opposite end portions of the stent are deformed to a diameter less than that of the at least two mounting bodies whereby the stent is interlocked with the mounting bodies until expansion of the stent and inflatable means to prevent accidental movement of the stent along the catheter during delivery.

A balloon catheter for intraluminal delivery of a stent, the catheter comprising a shaft having a diameter, a balloon associated with a distal portion of the shaft for receiving a stent, the stent having a first end and a second end and a contracted state and an expanded state, and means for inflating the balloon, the shaft including at least one mounting body radially carried on the shaft inside the balloon, the at least one mounting body being substantially the same length as the stent, whereby the diameter of the shaft is increased inside the balloon to facilitate mounting of a stent to the catheter over the balloon, the at least one mounting body being positioned on the shaft such that when the stent is loaded onto the inflatable means and the shaft in the stent's contracted state at least a portion of the at least one mounting body is under the stent and between the first and second ends of the stent.