Method and device for the manufacture of the medical expanding stents
OwnerDavid Cherkesinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method and device for manufacturing of expandable cylindrical metal meshes for use in expandable stents and in particular for customized manufacturing. The method includes determining the type and size of the stent to be implanted, electrochemically forming the stent with desired pattern of meshes and implanting the stent into patient. The method comprises using a cathode with desired pattern of meshes and a tubular blank, from which the stent is formed. Between the cathode and the blank is delivered an electrolyte and the cathode and the blank are simultaneously rotated during electrochemical forming process.
Claims40
Apparatus for electrochemically making stents from a tubular blank comprising:
- a rotator having cathodes thereon;
- a current source electrically connected to the cathodes;
- a source of electrolyte;
- means for pumping said electrolyte;
- means for controlling the electrochemical forming operation and
- a mandrel, positioned parallel to a rotational axis of said rotator, for holding said blank;
- said mandrel being made hollow and including a longitudinal slit for supplying electrolyte to the blank;
- said blank being positioned inside said mandrel.
A method of manufacturing expandable stents for implanting into a body lumen, comprising the steps of:
- electrochemically forming said expandable stent just prior to implantation, said electrochemical forming including:
- providing a working cathode which includes a desired pattern for producing the stent;
- providing a tubular blank adjacent to said working cathode;
- delivering an electrolyte between said working cathode and said tubular blank:
- relative displacing said tubular blank and said working cathode;
- and,
- electrochemically producing the stent with said desired pattern,
- wherein a mandrel is used for receiving said tubular blank, said mandrel having a linear slit along its longitudinal length parallel to said tubular blank for introducing the electrolyte and wherein said linear slit is narrower than the diameter of said tubular blank.
A method of custom-forming an expandable stent in an operating or emergency room for implanting the stent into a body lumen of a patient, comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of cathodes, at least some of which includes a different stent pattern on a rotator;
- providing a plurality of tubular blanks, at least some of which include a different material, diameter and thickness;
- selecting a working cathode from said plurality of cathodes with desired stent pattern;
- selecting a stent blank from said plurality of tubular blanks;
- mounting said stent blank in an operative relationship to said working cathode;
- rotating said rotator while delivering an electrolyte between said working cathode and said stent blank to electrochemically form the stent having the desired stent pattern;
- and
- recovering and preparing the stent for implantation into the patient's body lumen.
An apparatus for custom-forming an expandable stent in an operating or emergency room during a procedure to implant the stent into a body lumen of a patient for implantation into a body lumen, comprising:
- a rotator, for carrying one or more cathodes;
- a mandrel positioned parallel to a rotational axis of said rotator, for holding a tubular blank in operative relationship to a working cathode, selected from said one or more cathodes;
- a conduit for delivering electrolyte to a working cathode and said tubular blank;
- means for simultaneously rotating said rotator and said tubular blank;
- and means for supplying electrical voltage to the working cathode and to said tubular blank to produce a stent.
A method of manufacturing expandable medical stents for implantation into blood and urological vessels of a patient, comprising the steps of:
- determining a configuration and size of a stent to be implanted;
- electrochemically forming said stent from a tubular blank during a procedure to implant the stent, said electrochemically forming comprises relative displacing of a working cathode provided with a desired pattern and the tubular blank while delivering an electrolyte between the working cathode and the tubular blank, and
- implanting said stent into said patient, wherein said step of electrochemically forming comprises cutting the blank to a preset length in one operation using a cathode multiple tool, which together with the tubular blank, is rotated.
An apparatus for custom-forming an expandable stent in an operating or emergency room during a procedure to implant the stent into a body lumen of a patient for implantation into a body lumen, comprising:
- a rotator, for carrying one or more cathodes;
- a mandrel positioned parallel to a rotational axis of said rotator, for holding a tubular blank in operative relationship to a working cathode, selected from said one or more cathodes;
- a conduit for delivering electrolyte to the working cathode and said tubular blank;
- means for simultaneously rotating said rotator and said tubular blank;
- and
- means for supplying electrical voltage to the working cathode and to said tubular blank to produce a stent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.