Heat set and crimping process to optimize stent retention
First Claim
1. A method for manufacturing a stent delivery catheter which comprises the steps of:
- crimping an expandable stent over an inflatable balloon to create a balloon-stent assembly, the stent having a plurality of elements defining a lumen for receiving the balloon therein, each element having a width and a thickness with at least one opening defined by said elements;
positioning a tubular covering around the balloon-stent assembly to accommodate the balloon-stent assembly inside the tubular covering;
shrinking a shrink wrap onto the tubular covering to limit any substantial expansion of the tubular covering to constrain the balloon-stent assembly inside the tube;
pressurizing the constrained balloon-stent assembly with an inflation pressure;
heating the pressurized balloon-stent assembly to permanently deform the balloon and embed the stent into the balloon to retain the stent on the balloon; and
removing the shrink wrap and the tubular covering from the balloon-stent assembly.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for manufacturing a stent delivery catheter includes the step of crimping an expandable stent over an inflatable balloon to create a balloon-stent assembly. The balloon-stent assembly is then constrained by a covering tube and a shrink wrap which act together to prevent expansion of the stent when the balloon is pressurized. Next, the balloon is pressurized. In this configuration, the assembly is heated to permanently deform the balloon by embedding the stent into the balloon surface. The result is a stent delivery catheter system in which protrusions that are formed on the balloon surface are inserted into openings in the stent wall to enhance the retention forces acting between the balloon and the stent.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for manufacturing a stent delivery catheter which comprises the steps of:
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crimping an expandable stent over an inflatable balloon to create a balloon-stent assembly, the stent having a plurality of elements defining a lumen for receiving the balloon therein, each element having a width and a thickness with at least one opening defined by said elements; positioning a tubular covering around the balloon-stent assembly to accommodate the balloon-stent assembly inside the tubular covering; shrinking a shrink wrap onto the tubular covering to limit any substantial expansion of the tubular covering to constrain the balloon-stent assembly inside the tube; pressurizing the constrained balloon-stent assembly with an inflation pressure; heating the pressurized balloon-stent assembly to permanently deform the balloon and embed the stent into the balloon to retain the stent on the balloon; and removing the shrink wrap and the tubular covering from the balloon-stent assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of manufacturing a stent delivery catheter which comprises the steps of:
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crimping an expandable stent over an inflatable balloon to create a balloon-stent assembly, the stent having a plurality of elements defining a lumen for receiving the balloon therein. each element having a width and a thickness with at least one opening defined by said elements; positioning a tubular covering around the balloon-stent assembly to accommodate the balloon-stent assembly inside the tubular covering, wherein said tubular sleeve is formed with a longitudinal slit to facilitate said positioning step; shrinking a shrink wrap onto the tubular covering to limit any substantial expansion of the tubular covering to constrain the balloon-stent assembly inside the tube; pressuring the constrained balloon-stent assembly with an inflation pressure in the range of ten to twelve pounds per square inch (10-12 psi); heating the pressurized balloon-stent assembly with a temperature below the melt transition temperature of the balloon for a time duration of approximately five minutes to permanently deform the balloon and embed the stent into the balloon to retain the stent on the balloon; and removing them shrink wrap and tubular covering from the balloon-stent assembly.
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Specification