RADIOPAQUE NITINOL ALLOYS FOR MEDICAL DEVICES
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Abstract
A radiopaque nitinol medical device such as a stent for use with or implantation in a body lumen is disclosed. The stent is made from a superelastic alloy such as nickel-titanium or nitinol, and includes a ternary element selected from the group of chemical elements consisting of iridium, platinum, gold, rhenium, tungsten, palladium, rhodium, tantalum, silver, ruthenium, or hafnium. The added ternary element improves the radiopacity of the nitinol stent comparable to that of a stainless steel stent of the same and strut pattern coated with a thin layer of gold. The nitinol stent has improved radioplacity yet retains its superelastic and shape memory behavior and further maintains a thin strut/wall thickness for high flexibility.
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Citations
18 Claims
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15. A method for providing a radiopaque medical device, comprising:
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providing a self-expanding tublar body made form a superelastic nickel-titanium alloy, wherein the nickel-titanium alloy includes a radiopacity enhancing ternary element selected from the group consisting of palladium platinum such that an atomic percent of palladium is greater than 3 percent and less than or equal to 20 percent and an atomic percent of platinum is greater than 3 percent and less than or equal to 15 percent;
cutting a strut pattern into the tubular body;
heating treating the tubular body; and
wherein the medical device exhibits a level of radiopacity greater than the nickel-titanium alloy without the radiopacity enhancing ternary element.
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16. A method for providing radiopaque tubing, comprising:
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forming a tubular-shaped body having a thin wall, wherein the body includes a superelastic nickel-titanium alloy and the alloy further includes a ternary element selected from the group of chemical elements consisting of iridium, platinum, gold, rhenium, tungsten, palladium, rhodium, tantalum, silver, ruthenium, and hafnium;
wherein the step of providing a tubular-shaped body includes melting nickel, titanium, and the ternary element, cooling to form an alloy ingot, hot forming the alloy ingot, forming the alloy ingot into a cylinder, drilling the cylinder to form tubing, drawing the tubing, and annealing the tubing. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification