Stent and fabrication method thereof

• US 20070265696A1
• Filed: 04/23/2007
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seoul National University Industry Foundation (Seoul National University)
• Original Assignee: Seoul National University Industry Foundation (Seoul National University)
• Inventors: Kim, Ju-Hyun, Hong, Suk-Jin, Yoo, Jae-Heung, Lee, Joon-Seok, Yu, Woong-Ryeol
• Granted Patent: US 8,852,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure

Abstract

Disclosed is a stent having a hollow tubular structure with open ends which tubular structure is formed by a plurality of filaments woven alternately, wherein each of the filaments has at least one elongated closed-loop wire and both ends of each of the filaments are positioned at the open ends, and a method for fabricating the stent.

Claims

1. A stent having a hollow tubular structure with open ends which tubular structure is formed by a plurality of filaments woven alternately, wherein each of the filaments has at least one elongated closed-loop wire and both ends of each of the filaments are positioned at the open ends.

2. The stent according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of filaments comprise two groups of closed loops which are arranged spirally in a longitudinal direction of the tubular structure and alternate with each other in opposite directions.

3. The stent according to claim 2, wherein the elongated closed-loop filament has a pair of parallel parts which are substantially in contact with each other.

4. The stent according to claim 2, wherein the elongated closed-loop filament has a pair of parallel parts which are spaced from each other at predetermined distances.

5. The stent according to claim 2, wherein each of the filaments is made of a biocompatible metal or an alloy thereof.

6. The stent according to claim 2, wherein the tubular structure is formed by braiding and/or winding a plurality of closed-loop filaments.

7. The stent according to claim 1, wherein the elongated closed-loop filament has a pair of parallel parts which are substantially in contact with each other.

8. The stent according to claim 1, wherein the elongated closed-loop filament has a pair of parallel parts which are spaced from each other at predetermined distances.

9. The stent according to claim 1, wherein each of the filaments is made of a biocompatible metal or an alloy thereof.

10. The stent according to claim 1, wherein the tubular structure is formed by braiding and/or winding a plurality of closed-loop filaments.

11. A method for fabricating a stent, comprising the steps of:

(a) preparing a plurality of filaments having at least one elongated closed-loop wire;

(b) forming a plurality of assembly lines, in each of which at least one closed-loop filament is connected with at least two guide lines in an alternating fashion;

(c) braiding the assembly lines into a tubular structure by providing the plurality of the assembly lines to a braiding device; and

(d) removing the braided guide lines from both ends of the tubular structure composed of the filaments.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

subjecting the filaments to a first heat treatment to fix a shape of the closed-loop filaments prior to the step (b); and

subjecting the stent to a second heat treatment to memorize a shape of the stent next to the step (d).

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein each of the assembly lines has at least two closed-loop wire filaments connected with a guide line so that the at least two closed-loop filaments are positioned alternately with the guide lines.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein each of the assembly lines has at least two closed-loop wire filaments connected with a guide line so that the at least two closed-loop filaments are positioned alternately with the guide lines.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step (a) further comprises the step of bending both ends of each of the closed-loop wire filaments in advance so as to fix a shape of each of the closed-loop wire filaments.