Back to results
US 8,044,322 B2Granted
Vertical stent cutting process
AssigneeBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
InventorKenneth M. Merdan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for processing a tubular member for producing a medical device, wherein the tubular member is oriented in a longitudinally vertical position during processing.
Claims18
A method for removing material from a wall of a tubular member to form a plurality of holes therethrough according to a predetermined pattern, the method comprising:
- obtaining an optical system including a laser, and a securement device adapted to mount the tubular member;
- wherein the optical system is adapted to form a cutting spot on a wall of a tubular member, said cutting spot having sufficient energy to penetrate the wall of the tubular member, and to modulate the laser energy according to a predetermined pattern thereby forming a plurality of holes through the tubular member;
- mounting terminal end of the tubular member to the securement device such that a cylindrical axis of the tubular member is held in a vertical orientation while leaving the entire cross section of a lowermost terminal end of the tubular member unobstructed;
- forming a cutting spot on the wall of the tubular member;
- moving at least one of the optical system and the securement device while maintaining the cutting spot on the wall of the tubular member thereby moving the cutting spot over at least a portion of the wall of the tubular member in both vertical and circumferential directions;
- and
- directing a media flow, the media flow being a fluid, through a lumen defined by the tubular member from the uppermost end to the lowermost end.
4 more elements
A method for manufacturing a metallic tubular member comprising:
- obtaining a laser apparatus and a securement device adapted to mount a metallic tubular member;
- wherein the laser apparatus is adapted to selectively remove material from the metallic tubular member thereby forming a plurality of holes through the metallic tubular member according to a predetermined pattern;
- mounting the metallic tubular member to the securement device such that the metallic tubular member is held by an uppermost terminal end of the metallic tubular member with a cylindrical axis of the metallic tubular member in a vertical orientation while leaving the entire cross section of a lowermost terminal end of the metallic tubular member unobstructed;
- moving at least one of the laser apparatus and the securement device whereby the laser system removes material from at least a portion of the wall of the tubular member in both vertical and circumferential directions;
- and
- directing a media flow comprising a fluid into the uppermost end of the metallic tubular member, the media flow directed through a lumen defined by the metallic tubular member and out the lowermost end.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.