Abstract: The present invention provides a bifurcated stent comprising first and second stent frameworks. The stent frameworks may be cut from tubular stent frameworks using a laser. Each stent framework includes a leg portion and a body portion. The body portions are formed with segments and gaps and are concentrically aligned such that there is minimal overlap of the segments. Each leg portion may be crimped independently of its corresponding body portion, thus achieving a diameter less than that of its corresponding body portion. The leg portions may be capable of deflecting one from the other when the body portions are concentrically aligned.

Abstract: The present invention protects a distal portion of a catheter during shipment and storage. The device holds the distal portion suspended such that it does not contact the device. The suspended portion is protected from damage resulting from abrasion. When the suspended portion includes a therapeutic coating, the coating is protected from the risk of impaired performance resulting from a therapeutic agent migrating out of the coating and into the packaging material or components of the packaging material migrating into the therapeutic coating, both of which can occur if a therapeutic coating remains in contact with another material for an extended period of time.