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US 8,043,553 B1Granted
Controlled deformation of a polymer tube with a restraining surface in fabricating a medical article
AssigneeAdvanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
InventorJonathan P. Durcan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods of manufacturing a medical article that include radial deformation of a polymer tube are disclosed. A medical article, such as an implantable medical device or an inflatable member, may be fabricated from a deformed tube.
Claims16
A method for fabricating an implantable medical device having a final diameter, comprising:
- disposing in a cavity a polymer tube having an initial diameter defined by an outer surface thereof, the cavity being formed by sliding wedges having respective abutting surfaces defining an opening of the cavity, the sliding wedges configured for being displaced radially outward when the tube is radially expanded within the cavity;
- disposing the abutting surfaces of the sliding wedges at about the outer surface of the tube;
- and
- radially expanding the tube from the initial diameter to the final diameter, wherein the sliding wedges apply a radial restraining force on the expanding tube as the outer surface of the tube contacts the abutting surfaces and displaces the sliding wedges radially outward;
- and
- fabricating the implantable medical device from the expanded tube.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.