Stent having a C-shaped body section for use in a bifurcation

A method of implanting a stent system in a bifurcation having a main vessel, a first branch vessel, and a second branch vessel, the method including the steps of:

• releasing a first self-expanding stent prosthesis from a compressed configuration within a sheath to an expanded configuration at the bifurcation such that a first generally hemicylindrical section thereof expands into contact with a wall of the main vessel of the bifurcation and a first generally cylindrical section thereof expands into contact with a wall of the first branch vessel of the bifurcation, the first generally hemicylindrical section defined by a pair of opposing spaced apart edges extending along a length thereof, the first generally hemicylindrical section being axially coupled to the first hemicylindrical section the first hemicylindrical section having a generally C-shaped cross-section along its length when the first stent is in the expanded configuration;
• and
• releasing a second self-expanding stent prosthesis from a compressed configuration within a sheath to an expanded configuration at the bifurcation such that a second generally hemicylindrical section thereof expands into contact with a wall of the main vessel of the bifurcation and a second generally cylindrical section thereof expands into contact with a wall of the second branch vessel of the bifurcation, the second generally hemicylindrical section defined by a pair of opposing spaced apart edges extending along a length thereof, the second generally hemicylindrical section being axially coupled to the second hemicylindrical section the second hemicylindrical section having a generally C-shaped cross-section along its length when the first stent is in the expanded configuration;
• wherein the second generally hemicylindrical section and the first generally hemicylindrical section mate and form a single interlock extending substantially along the length of the corresponding edges to form a tubular trunk portion of a bifurcated scaffold while the generally cylindrical sections of the first and second stent prostheses form respective legs of the bifurcated scaffold.