Laser process to produce drug delivery channel in metal stents
First Claim
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1. A method of forming a channel in a selected portion of the outer wall of a stent, comprising:
- aligning a diode pumped Q-switched Nd/YAG laser assembly with a tubular member;
generating a laser beam having a wavelength in the ultraviolet range;
impinging the laser bean on a selected portion of the outer surface of the tubular member;
moving the tubular member relative to the laser beam to machine a channel into the outer surface of the tubular member;
moving the tubular member relative to the laser beam to cut a stent pattern incorporating the channel into the outer surface of the tubular member so as to form a stent.
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Abstract
A method for forming a stent and for also forming channels in the outer surface of selected regions of the stent structure. The method includes impinging a laser beam generated by a diode pumped Q-switched pulsed Nd/YAG laser operating at the third harmonic on an outer surface of a stent and controllably machining channels in the outer surface of the stent. The depth of the channels may be controlled by adjusting the power and pulse rate of the laser, and also by adjusting the rate at which the stent moves relative to the laser beam.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of forming a channel in a selected portion of the outer wall of a stent, comprising:
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aligning a diode pumped Q-switched Nd/YAG laser assembly with a tubular member;
generating a laser beam having a wavelength in the ultraviolet range;
impinging the laser bean on a selected portion of the outer surface of the tubular member;
moving the tubular member relative to the laser beam to machine a channel into the outer surface of the tubular member;
moving the tubular member relative to the laser beam to cut a stent pattern incorporating the channel into the outer surface of the tubular member so as to form a stent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for forming a stent, comprising:
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impinging a first laser beam having a wavelength of about 355 nanometers on an outer surface of a tubular member having an outer surface and a tubular wall;
moving the tubular member relative to the first laser beam to cut a channel in a selected portion of the tubular member. impinging a second laser beam on the outer surface of the tubular member thereby causing the laser beam to cut through the tubular wall;
moving the tubular member relative to the second laser beam to cut a stent pattern, the stent pattern incorporating the channel is a selected portion of the stent pattern. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for forming a stent having one or more drug reservoirs incorporated therein, comprising:
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a computer controlled movable positioning table;
a rotatable collet mounted on the positioning table, the collet configured to receive and hold a tubular member;
the rotation of the collet also controlled by a computer;
a first a diode pumped Q-switched Nd/YAG laser assembly emitting a light beam for machining at least one channel into a portion of an outer surface of the tubular member; and
a second laser emitting a light beam capable of cutting a stent pattern into the tubular member so as to form a stent;
wherein the feed table is movable relative to the first and second laser light beams. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A system for forming a stent having one or more drug reservoirs incorporated therein, comprising:
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a diode pumped Q-switched Nd/YAG laser assembly emitting a light beam having a wavelength equivalent to a third harmonic of a primary wavelength of the laser;
a computer controlled movable positioning feed table;
a rotatable collet mounted on the positioning table, the collet configured to receive and hold a tubular member;
the rotation of the collet also controlled by a computer, the rotatable collet and movable positioning table operable to move in response to commands from the computer to move the tubular member relative to the light beam of the laser to machine at least one channel into a portion of an outer surface of the tubular member and to cut a stent pattern into the tubular member so as to form a stent, the channels being incorporated into at least one selected portion of the stent pattern.
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15. A method for forming a stent, comprising:
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impinging a laser beam having a wavelength of about 355 nanometers on an outer surface of a tubular member having an outer surface and a tubular wall;
moving the tubular member relative to the laser beam to cut a channel in a selected portion of the tubular member. moving the tubular member relative to the laser beam to cut a stent pattern, the stent pattern incorporating the channel is a selected portion of the stent pattern. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification