Importance

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Abstract

A flexible balloon 10 is provided for use in delivering and radially expanding a surgical stent 110. The flexible balloon 10 includes an interior which can be inflated with a fluid to expand the balloon 10 from a collapsed to an inflated radial size. The balloon 10 is formed with an outer surface 22 having a contour which includes a series of substantial cylindrical sections 20 spaced apart by notches 30. The notches 30 have a lesser radial size than that exhibited by the cylindrical sections 20. The notches 30 thus assist the balloon 10 in flexing to allow the balloon 10 to be passed through body lumens L having tight bends therein. A stent 110 is additionally disclosed which includes multiple separate segments 180. The segments 180 are sized to match axial length of the cylindrical sections 20 and are provided with greater flexibility axially between segments 180 than within segments 180 of the stent 110. Thus, areas of flexibility within the stent 110 align with areas of flexibility in the balloon 10. The flexible balloon 10 can either have cylindrical sections 20 of similar size or be configured as a tapering balloon 50 with both large sections 60 and small sections 70.

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First Claim