Apparatus and method for polishing lumenal prostheses
First Claim
1. A method for deburring and polishing a radially expansible lumenal prosthesis having a hollow elongate body with an inner lumen, wherein said body comprises a plurality of elongated longitudinal openings circumferentially spaced-apart about the body, the method comprising:
- mounting the lumenal prosthesis within a chamber such that openings spaced around a circumference of the elongate body are fluidly coupled to the chamber; and
radially extruding a flowable abrasive material through the openings around the circumference of the elongate body in abrading contact with cut surfaces and edges surrounding the openings, wherein all abrasive material flows from the lumen radially outwardly through the openings to the exterior of the prosthesis or from the exterior of the prosthesis radially inwardly to the lumen.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for deburring and rounding edges and polishing surfaces of radially expansible lumenal prostheses, such as stents and grafts, are provided. A stent (2) is mounted onto a polishing apparatus (58) and a flowable abrasive slurry is extruded through the apparatus in abrading contact with inner and outer surfaces (28, 29) and circumferential openings (30) in the stent. To polish the cut surfaces (32) and edges (34, 36) surrounding the openings, the abrasive slurry is introduced into an inner lumen (26) of the stent and extruded radially outward through the openings. The inner and outer wall surfaces 28, 29 are preferably pre-polished prior to cutting the slot pattern (i.e., openings 30) in the stent.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A method for deburring and polishing a radially expansible lumenal prosthesis having a hollow elongate body with an inner lumen, wherein said body comprises a plurality of elongated longitudinal openings circumferentially spaced-apart about the body, the method comprising:
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mounting the lumenal prosthesis within a chamber such that openings spaced around a circumference of the elongate body are fluidly coupled to the chamber; and radially extruding a flowable abrasive material through the openings around the circumference of the elongate body in abrading contact with cut surfaces and edges surrounding the openings, wherein all abrasive material flows from the lumen radially outwardly through the openings to the exterior of the prosthesis or from the exterior of the prosthesis radially inwardly to the lumen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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8. A method for deburring and polishing a radially expansible lumenal prosthesis having a hollow elongate body, the method comprising:
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mounting the lumenal prosthesis adjacent a fluid conduit; radially extruding a flowable abrasive material through the fluid conduit and through openings on a circumference of the elongate body in abrading contact with cut surfaces and edges surrounding the openings; providing hollow, tubular extensions to first and second ends of the prosthesis; and mounting the tubular extensions to a fixture. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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23. An apparatus for deburring and polishing a radially expansible lumenal prosthesis having an elongate body sized for delivery through an anatomical lumen and having an inner lumen, wherein said body comprises a plurality of elongated longitudinal openings circumferentially spaced-apart about the body, the apparatus comprising:
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a fixture defining a chamber for receiving at least a portion of the lumenal prosthesis; and a fluid hydraulic system in communication with the chamber or radially extruding the flowable abrasive material through openings spaced around a circumference of the prosthesis body in abrading contact with cut surfaces and edges surrounding the openings, wherein the system directs all flow of abrasive material from the lumen radially outwardly through the openings to the exterior of the prosthesis or from the exterior of the prosthesis radially inwardly to the lumen. - View Dependent Claims (24, 30, 45, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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25. An apparatus for deburring and polishing a radially expansible lumenal prosthesis having an elongate body sized for delivery through an anatomical lumen, the apparatus comprising:
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a fixture defining a chamber for receiving at least a portion of the lumenal prosthesis; and a fluid conduit in communication with the chamber for radially extruding the flowable abrasive material through opening in the circumference of the prosthesis body in abrading contact with cut surfaces and edges surrounding the openings; wherein the fluid conduit is a hollow tube sized for positioning through an open end of the lumenal prosthesis into the inner lumen, the hollow tube having an inlet adapted for receiving a flowable abrasive material and an outlet in communication with the inner lumen for delivering the flowable abrasive material under pressure into the inner lumen. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 33, 34)
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31. An apparatus for deburring and polishing a radially expansible lumenal prosthesis having an elongate body sized for delivery through an anatomical lumen, the apparatus comprising:
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a fixture defining a chamber for receiving at least a portion of the lumenal prosthesis; and a fluid conduit in communication with the chamber for radially extruding the flowable abrasive material through openings in the circumference of the prosthesis body in abrading contact with cut surfaces and edges surrounding the openings; wherein the fixture comprises a base and a mount coupled to the base for holding the lumenal prosthesis such that said portion of the lumenal prosthesis is disposed within the chamber, the mount comprising first and second mounting arms extending from the base on opposite sides of the chamber, the mounting arms each being adapted to hold an end portion of the prosthesis body. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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35. A system for deburring and polishing a radially expansible lumenal prosthesis sized for delivery through an anatomical lumen and having an elongate, hollow body defining an inner lumen, the apparatus comprising:
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a supply of flowable abrasive material; a polishing assembly defining a chamber for holding at least a portion of the lumenal prosthesis within the chamber; a fluid conduit having an inlet in communication with the supply of flowable abrasive material and an outlet in communication with the chamber, wherein said body comprises a plurality of elongated longitudinal openings circumferentially spaced-apart about the body; and a pump for delivering the abrasive material under pressure through the fluid conduit and radially forcing the abrasive material through openings spaced around a circumference of the lumenal prosthesis in abrading contact with cut surfaces and edges surrounding the openings, wherein the system directs all flow of abrasive material from the lumen radially outwardly through the openings to the exterior of the prosthesis or from the exterior of the prosthesis radially inwardly to the lumen. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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46. The apparatus of 45 further comprising a drive for moving the prosthesis relative to the annular chamber such that the annulus surrounds a second axial section of the prosthesis.
Specification