Polymeric Stent Polishing Method And Apparatus
First Claim
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1. A method of polishing a polymeric stent, comprising:
- directing heat into an interior space of an unpolished polymeric stent and against a luminal surface of the stent to thereby polish the luminal surface.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for simultaneously polishing the inner and outer surfaces of an unpolished polymeric stent using a heat process. The unpolished stent can be mounted, for example, on a “spiral-mandrel,” a tubular helical structure with gaps in between a series of coils of the structure. Heat from a heat source can then applied to the spiral-mandrel at a range between the glass transition temperature and melting temperature of the polymer of the stent.
31 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method of polishing a polymeric stent, comprising:
directing heat into an interior space of an unpolished polymeric stent and against a luminal surface of the stent to thereby polish the luminal surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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24. A method of polishing a polymeric stent, comprising:
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mounting a stent made from a material including a polymer onto a structure having a series of gaps; and after the mounting, subjecting the stent to heat from a heat source so as to modify a surface morphometry of at least a section of the stent from an angular configuration to a non-angular configuration.
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- 27. The method of claim 27, wherein the structure comprises a metallic material.
Specification