Medical Implant Such a Stent
First Claim
1. A medical implant that defines a lumen with a longitudinal center axis having a matrix of elongate struts wherein each strut has a thickness between a luminal surface and an abluminal surface, and opposed lengthwise flank surfaces, one on each side of the strutthe flank surfaces being formed by a jet cutter;
- andat least a portion of at least one of the flank surfaces has a plane that does not intercept the longitudinal center axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medical implant such as a self-expanding shape memory alloy stent with a strut matrix formed by cut patterns in a wall of a tubular workpiece (12) can be enhanced by arranging for the line of the laser beam when cutting the struts (62) to be one that does not pass through the longitudinal rotational axis (10) of the tubular workpiece. Such “off-axis-” cutting can modify the cross-sectional shape and area of each strut, along its length. Such modulation can enhance the fatigue resistance of the stent matrix, or increase the radial force that the stent matrix is capable of exerting on bodily tissue within which it is implanted.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A medical implant that defines a lumen with a longitudinal center axis having a matrix of elongate struts wherein each strut has a thickness between a luminal surface and an abluminal surface, and opposed lengthwise flank surfaces, one on each side of the strut
the flank surfaces being formed by a jet cutter; - and
at least a portion of at least one of the flank surfaces has a plane that does not intercept the longitudinal center axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of forming a medical implant from a tubular workpiece that has a longitudinal center axis, the method including the step of using a jet cutter to cut a matrix of struts within an annular wall of the workpiece,
the method being characterized by the steps of: -
arranging the line of the jet cutter so as not to intercept the longitudinal center axis; and translating the workpiece relative to the arranged line of action, to create a flank surface of a strut within the matrix wherein at least a portion of the flank surfaces has a plane or tangent that does not intercept the longitudinal center axis. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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Specification