Method to manufacture thin strut stent from bioabsorbable polymer

Abstract

This invention discloses a process for preparation of a balloon expandable biodegradable polymer stent with thin struts (strut thickness 130 μm or less, preferably 100-110 μm) with high fatigue and radial strength. The invention discloses a process for the preparation of a biodegradable polymer stent which involves deforming an extruded biodegradable polymer tube axially at a first predefined temperature by applying an axial force for a first predefined time interval. The process further includes radially expanding the axially stretched tube at a second predefined temperature by pressurizing the tube with an inert gas in one or more stages, the pressure applied in each successive stage being higher than the pressure applied in a previous stage.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.