Apparatus and a method for treating an irregularity in a wall of a vessel
of a patient defined by an irregular or afflicted wall portion with
adjacent normal wall portions comprises a catheter having a distal end
portion for being guided through the vessel to the site of the
irregularity. A balloon associated with said distal end portion of the
catheter for selective inflating to contact the walls of the vessel urges
a stent carried by the distal end portion of the catheter in a
constricted condition for passage through the vessel into an expanded
form with the stent spanning the afflicted wall portion and contacting
the adjacent wall portions. The catheter is formed with lumens for
inflating the balloon, for receiving a guidewire for guiding the catheter
through the vessel, and for connecting a port in the catheter proximate
the afflicted wall portion to enable delivery of a therapeutic agent into
the vessel to contact the stent and the irregular wall portion.