Combined balloon-expanding and self-expanding stent

1. An unexpanded stent comprising a plurality of segments including:

a first balloon expandable segment which is not self-expanding, the first balloon expandable segment defining a plurality of balloon expandable cells therein;

a second balloon expandable segment which is not self-expanding, the second balloon expandable segment defining a plurality of balloon expandable cells therein; and

a plurality of self-expanding segments, each self-expanding segment being non-abutting to any other self-expanding segment, some of the plurality of self-expanding segments being longitudinally and circumferentially offset from one another, each self-expanding segment defining a plurality of self-expanding cells therein, the self-expanding cells made of a shape memory material;

the stent having a distal-most end and a proximal-most end, each end constructed of balloon expandable material.

2. The stent of claim 1 wherein the self-expanding segments are regularly distributed about the stent.

3. The stent of claim 1 comprising more balloon expandable but non-self-expanding cells than self-expanding cells.

4. The stent of claim 1 wherein the stent has a protective covering.

5. The stent of claim 1 wherein at least 50% of the stent is made from one piece balloon expandable metal.

6. The stent of claim 1 wherein at least one self-expanding segment is located at an end of the stent.

7. The stent of claim 1 wherein the segments are irregularly shaped.

8. The stent of claim 1 wherein the balloon expandable segments are made of stainless steel and the self-expanding segments are made of a shape memory alloy.

9. The stent of claim 8 wherein the shape memory alloy is FeMnSiCrNi shape memory stainless steel.