The present invention concerns novel stent apparatuses for use in treating
lesions at or near the bifurcation point in bifurcated cardiac, coronary,
renal, peripheral vascular, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, urinary and
neurovascular vessels and brain vessels. More particularly, the invention
concerns a stent apparatus with at least one side opening which may
further comprise an extendable stent portion laterally extending from the
side opening and at least partly in registry with the wall of the side
opening. Devices constructed in accordance with the invention include,
singularly or in combination, a main expandable stent comprising at least
one substantially circular side opening located between its proximal and
distal end openings, which side opening may further comprise an
expandable portion extending radially outward from the edges of the side
opening; and a branch stent comprising proximal and distal end openings
and which may further comprise a contacting portion at its proximal end,
and which may optionally be constructed to form either a perpendicular
branch or a non-perpendicular branch when inserted through a side opening
of the main stent. The stents of the invention are marked with, or at
least partially constructed of, a material which is imageable during
intraluminal catheterization techniques, most preferably but not limited
to ultrasound and x-ray.