Apparatus and method for forming a wave form for a stent from a wire

A method for forming a wave form for a stent from a stent wire, the method comprising:

• moving a first wire holder with a first tension wire and a second wire holder with a second tension wire apart from each other;
• feeding the stent wire such that a first portion of the stent wire is disposed between the first tension wire and the second tension wire, wherein the stent wire is substantially orthogonal to the first and second tension wires;
• moving the first wire holder and the second wire holder towards each other;
• translating the first wire holder such that the first tension wire is substantially aligned with a rotation axis;
• rotating the first and second wire holders in a first direction about the rotation axis substantially parallel to the first and second tension wires to bend the first portion of the stent wire in a first direction;
• moving the first wire holder and the second wire holder apart from each other;
• feeding the stent wire such that a second portion of the stent wire is disposed between the tension wires;
• moving the first wire holder and the second wire holder towards each other;
• rotating the first and second wire holders in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction about the rotation axis to bend the second portion of the stent wire in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction;
• and
• prior to rotating the first and second wire holders in the second direction, translating the second wire holder such that the second tension wire is substantially aligned with the rotation axis.

A method for forming a wave form for a stent from a stent wire, the method comprising:

• maintaining a first tension wire and a second tension wire in tension;
• feeding the stent wire such that a first portion of the stent wire is disposed between the first tension wire and the second tension wire, wherein the stent wire is substantially orthogonal to the first and second tension wires;
• rotating the first and second tension wires in a first direction about a rotation axis substantially parallel to the first and second tension wires to bend the first portion of the stent wire in a first direction;
• feeding the stent wire such that a second portion of the stent wire is disposed between the first and second tension wires;
• and
• rotating the first and second tension wires in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction about the rotation axis to bend the second portion of the stent wire in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction.