Hybrid stent and method of making
AssigneeAbbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
InventorSantosh Prabhu
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Abstract
A stent is formed by encasing or encapsulating metallic rings in an inner polymeric layer and an outer polymeric layer. At least one polymer link connects adjacent metallic rings. The stent is drug loaded with one or more therapeutic agent or drug, for example, to reduce the likelihood of the development of restenosis in the coronary arteries. The inner and outer polymeric materials can be of the same polymer or different polymer to achieve different results, such as enhancing flexibility and providing a stent that is visible under MRI, computer tomography and x-ray fluoroscopy.
Claims41
A stent, comprising:
- a plurality of metallic rings aligned along a stent longitudinal axis;
- an outer layer of a first polymeric material covering an outer surface of the metallic rings;
- an inner layer of a second polymeric material covering an inner surface of the metallic rings;
- and
- at least one link connecting adjacent metallic rings, the links being formed by the outer layer and the inner layer.
A method of making a hybrid stent, comprising:
- laser cutting a tubular member to form a pattern of metallic rings;
- mounting a first polymeric tube onto mandrel and positioning the metallic rings over the polymeric tube;
- mounting a second polymeric tube over the metallic rings and the first polymeric tube;
- fusing the first polymeric tube to the second polymeric tube with the metallic rings therebetween;
- and
- removing the fused first polymeric tube and the second polymeric tube from the mandrel.
A method of making a hybrid stent, comprising:
- coating a mandrel with a first polymer to form a first polymeric tube;
- mounting a plurality of metallic rings over the first polymeric tube;
- applying a second polymeric material over the metallic rings and the first polymeric tube to form the stent;
- and
- removing the stent from the mandrel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.