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.
Claims6
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 unconnected 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;
- selectively removing portions of the first polymeric tube and second polymeric tube to form polymeric links which connect adjacent metallic rings together;
- and
- removing the stent from the mandrel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.