Fugitive plasticizer balloon surface treatment for enhanced stent securement
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorsRaed Rizq, John Chen, Stanley Nordin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an assembly of a balloon mounted on a catheter and a stent mounted over the deflated balloon, the balloon is provided with a fugitive plasticizer before the stent is crimped over the balloon. The fugitive plasticizer can soften the balloon surface so that molding of the balloon surface to conform to the crimped stent occurs. The fugitive plasticizer is removed before the assembly is used.
Claims23
An assembly comprising a catheter, a deflated balloon mounted on the catheter and a stent mounted over the balloon, wherein
- the balloon comprises polymer material having a fugitive plasticizer distributed therein.
An assembly comprising a catheter, a deflated balloon mounted on the catheter and a stent crimped over the balloon, the stent having a coating comprising a drug, wherein the stent has been crimped on the balloon while the balloon was in a softened state to produce a pillowing of the balloon material between openings in the stent, said pillowing having been produced without exposing the drug coating to a temperature in excess of 50° C. or exposing the balloon material to a solvent therefor.
A method of producing a balloon catheter suitable for use as a stent delivery device the method comprising:
- treating at least the balloon portion of the balloon catheter with a fugitive plasticizer to soften the balloon material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.