Stent thermoforming apparatus and methods

A stent-assembly apparatus which comprises:

• a stent-assembly mold comprising a first tube including a heat-conductive material and having a seamless inner surface forming a passage;
• a heating unit disposed in proximity and fluidically connected to an outer surface of the mold;
• and
• a temperature sensor disposed in proximity to and outside the mold.

A method of increasing retention of an expandable strut assembly on a stent balloon, which comprises:

• disposing an expandable stent assembly about a central portion of a stent balloon in a pre-sized expansion zone;
• heating the stent balloon to at least a first temperature;
• and
• inflating the stent balloon to a first pressure to cause it to expand and correspond to the pre-sized expansion zone.

A method of detecting a leak in a stent balloon which comprises:

• disposing a stent balloon in a pre-sized expansion zone;
• inflating the stent balloon in the pre-sized expansion zone to a pressure that expands the balloon;
• isolating the pressure in the strut balloon in situ in the expansion zone;
• and
• determining whether the pressure within the stent balloon recedes below a predetermined threshold pressure over a time period.