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US 2014/0277373 A1Published application
Method of fabricating stents from blow molded tubing
AssigneeAbbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
InventorsBin Huang, David C. Gale, Vincent J. Gueriguian
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Abstract
Methods to expand polymer tubing with desirable or optimum morphology and mechanical properties for stent manufacture and fabrication of a stent therefrom are disclosed.
Claims10
1-19. (canceled)
A method for fabricating a stent, comprising:
- radially deforming a polymer tube for use in fabrication of a stent from the deformed tube, wherein the radial deformation propagates along the tube axis as the tube is heated along the axis, the polymer tube having an internal tube pressure higher than ambient;
- controlling a temperature of the deforming polymer tube to provide a selected fracture toughness of the stent fabricated from the tube, wherein the temperature is controlled to provide a morphology of the polymer tube that provides the selected fracture-toughness, and wherein the temperature is in orange in which the polymer crystal nucleation rate is larger than the polymer crystal growth rate;
- and
- fabricating the stent from the deformed tube including forming struts interconnected with bending elements wherein the polymer tube is made of poly(L-lactide) and the temperature is controlled to be in the range 180.degree. F. to 220.degree. F;
- wherein the radially deformed tube has a diameter of between 0.2 mm and 5 mm.
2 more elements
A method for fabricating a stent, comprising:
- increasing an internal pressure of a tube to a deformation pressure;
- translating a heat source along an axis of the pressurized polymer tube to heat the tube to a deformation temperature;
- allowing the tube to radially expand as the heat source translates along the axis of the polymer tube, wherein the heating of the tube and the increase in pressure allow the tube to radially expand;
- and
- controlling the deformation temperature to provide a selected fracture toughness to a stent fabricated from the tube wherein the deformation temperature is controlled to provide a morphology of the deformed polymer tube comprising an amorphous matrix including dispersed crystalline regions, wherein the crystalline regions have a size of about 10 nanometers;
- and
- fabricating the stent from the expanded tube including forming struts interconnected with bending elements;
- wherein the polymer tube is made of poly(L-lactide) and the deformation temperature is controlled to be in the range 180.degree. F. to 220.degree. F.
5 more elements
The method of claim 26, wherein the stent has a diameter of between 0.2 mm and 5 mm.
A medical device, comprising:
- a stent cut from a radially expanded tube made of poly(L-lactide);
- wherein the radially expanded tube has a morphology comprising an amorphous matrix including dispersed crystalline regions, wherein a crystal size is about 10 nanometers;
- and
- wherein the stent comprises struts interconnected with bending elements.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.