Tooling for forming a stent

• US 6,514,063 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2001
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Acciai, Michael A., Legg, John T., Hall, Richard R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Aftergut, Jeff H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rossi, Jessica
• Application Number:
  US09/792,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20010012960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 156/166, 156/180, 156/245, 156/433, 623/1.11, 623/1.12, 623/1.13, 623/1.14, 623/1.15, 623/1.16, 623/1.22, 606/192, 606/194, 606/195, 264/645, 264/328.1, 264/297.2, 425/542, 425/564, 425/565, 425/566, 425/567, 425/568, 425/569, 425/570, 425/571, 425/577, 425/412, 425/414, 425/116, 425/127, 425/129.1, 249/63, 249/64, 249/105, 249/106, 249/107, 249/108, 249/109, 249/144, 249/145, 249/160, 249/173
• US Class Current: 425/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and tooling for forming a stent and the stent so formed. The stent includes filaments of a first material and joints of a second material. The present invention also discloses the above described stent in combination with an angioplasty balloon. The tooling in accordance with the present invention provides a fixture having grooves that receive the filaments of the stent to hold the filaments in place for joining. The joining of all of the filaments can be performed simultaneously by laser welding or injection molding a joint material. The tooling in accordance with the present invention also provides the capability to mold the stent as one piece. The method in accordance with the present invention includes the steps of providing a fixture with internal grooves, placing filaments into the grooves and joining the filaments together. The method also includes providing a mold having internal grooves, and injecting a molten material into the mold to fill the grooves so as to create a one-piece stent of polymer and/or metallic materials.

Claims

1. Tooling apparatus for forming a medical stent comprising:

a first part including grooves for aligning filaments having crests and troughs therein, said first part including a first portion and a second portion which mate together to form a generally cylindrical internal surface, said grooves being formed along said generally cylindrical internal surface; and

a second part for being positioned within said first part and including conduits therein for directing joint forming material to portions of said first part where selected ones of said crests align with selected ones of said troughs so as to form joints between said crests and troughs and thereby form a medical stent member.

2. The tooling apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second part is a mandrel that fits within said generally cylindrical internal surface.

3. The tooling apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first part includes enlarged openings in said grooves at the locations where said crests and troughs align to facilitate creation of said joints between said crests and troughs.

4. Tooling apparatus for forming a medical stent comprising:

a first part including grooves formed therein having crest and trough configurations as part thereof, said first part including a first portion and a second portion which mate together to form a generally cylindrical internal surface having said grooves formed therein; and

a second part for being positioned within said first part and including conduits therein for directing filament-forming material into said grooves to form a medical stent member having joined crest and trough portions.

5. The tooling apparatus of claim 4 wherein said second part is a mandrel that fits within said generally cylindrical surface.

6. The tooling apparatus of claim 4 wherein said filament-formed material is molten.

7. Tooling apparatus for forming a medical stent comprising:

a first part including grooves therein for aligning filaments having crests and troughs therein, said first part including a first portion and a second portion which mate together to form a generally cylindrical internal surface; and

a second part for being positioned within said first part, said first and second portions of said first part including channels therein which open into said grooves within said first part to enable heat to be directed through said channels onto said filaments aligned in said first part to form joints between selected ones of said crests and troughs of said filaments to thereby form a medical stent member.

8. The tooling apparatus of claim 7 wherein said second part is a mandrel that fits within said generally cylindrical surface.

9. The tooling apparatus of claim 7 wherein said mandrel does not include conduits therein.