Method for fabricating a planar eversible lattice which forms a stent when everted

• US 6,327,772 B1
• Filed: 04/13/1999
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Ave Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Shiu, Brian, Luehrs, Kirsten F., Hayes, Michael B., Coombs, Craig J., Turovskiy, Roman, Gittings, Darin C., Cox, Brian J., Zadno-Azizi, Gholam-Reza
• Primary Examiner(s): Bryant, David P.
• Application Number:
  US09/290,562
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 29/61, 29/62, 294/12, 294/18, 295/57, 623/1.15, 623/1.16, 623/1.18, 623/12, 623/900, 623/901, 606/194, 723/792
• US Class Current: 29/557
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/915 with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0017 Angular shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/005 Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2240/001 Designing or manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 51/10 conically or cylindrically shaped objects
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/901 Method of manufacturing prosthetic device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/18 Expanded metal making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49789 Obtaining plural product pieces from unitary workpiece
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49799 Providing transitory integral holding or handling portion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49995 Shaping one-piece blank by removing material

Abstract

Methods and articles for fabricating expansive stents having generally cylindrical configurations with a pattern therein include interconnecting portions from a generally planar sheet of material with a central portion. A pattern is formed in the sheet of material around said central portion corresponding to said pattern having interconnecting portions. The pattern has a generally circular outer margin. The pattern is separated from the sheet of material and causes relative movement between the central portion of the pattern and the outer circular margin in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the central portion. The pattern is transformed from one sheet form into one in cylindrical form to provide an expansible stent having a generally cylindrical configuration.

Claims

1. A method for fabricating a planar eversible lattice which when everted forms a cylindrical wall of a cylindrical stent, said method comprising:

patterning a planar sheet of material to form an annular lattice of interconnected elements defining the eversible structure, wherein the eversible structure becomes radially expansible after eversion.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the interconnected elements of the planar annular lattice are joined in at least one continuous annular path.

3. A method as in claim 2, wherein the interconnected elements comprise an annular serpentine ring.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the eversible lattice is an annular serpentine ring which becomes a cylindrical serpentine ring after eversion.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the interconnected elements comprise a plurality of closed peripheral structures.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the closed peripheral structures are polygonal.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein the polygonal structures are lozenge-shaped.

8. A method as in claim 7, wherein the eversible lattice comprises a plurality of lozenge-shaped elements having axes which are aligned radially within the annular lattice, wherein adjacent lozenge-shaped elements are connected to each other.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein the adjacent lozenge-shaped elements are connected to each other by tabs located along a common diametric line within the annular lattice.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein the eversible lattice comprises at least two radially successive annular rows of lozenge-shaped elements.

11. A method as in claim 1, wherein the patterning step comprises photochemical etching of the planar sheet of material.

12. A method as in claim 1, wherein the patterning step comprises cutting the sheet of material.

13. A method as in claim 12, wherein the cutting step comprises electrical discharge machining.

14. A method as in claim 12, wherein the cutting step comprises laser cutting.

15. A method as in claim 12, wherein the cutting step comprises providing a plurality of planar sheets arranged in a stack and cutting the stack to provide a plurality of planar networks.

16. A method as in claim 1, wherein the patterning step comprises stamping the planar sheet of material.

17. A method as in claim 1, wherein the planar annular lattice of interconnected elements is composed of a metal.

18. A method as in claim 17, wherein the metal is a shape memory alloy.

19. A method as in claim 18, wherein the metal is a nickel titanium alloy.

20. A method as in claim 19, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, titanium, tantalum, platinum, and elgiloy.