Method for manufacturing a stent

• US 6,568,432 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2001
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MANI Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MANI Incorporated
• Inventors: Fukuda, Shoichi, Matsutani, Masaaki, Fukuda, Masatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Larson, Lowell A.
• Application Number:
  US09/916,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20020033552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 140/71.R, 140/92.1, 140/107, 623/1.15, 623/1.16, 623/1.2, 623/1.22, 623/1.32, 623/1.33, 623/1.18, 623/1.19
• US Class Current: 140/71.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/89 the wire-like elements comprising two or more adjacent rings flexibly connected by separate members
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2240/001 Designing or manufacturing processes

Abstract

A stent manufactured for treating internal tubular organs, typically for treating a blood vessel, in which the stent has a sufficient diametral shrinkage ability and an ability for returning back to the original diameter thereof.

A zigzag shape-memorized stent A is manufactured by performing shape memorization where a wire 1 is fixed in a zigzag bent manner in which the wire is made from a shape-memorizing Ni—Ti alloy not having been subject to shape-memorization of any sort. A stent A being shape-memorized with a zigzag shape as well as a cylindrical shape could be manufactured by performing shape-memorization process in which a stent having been shape-memorized into a zigzag shape with the end portions thereof being connected by overlapping with each other, is attached to a cylindrical jig.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a zigzag shaped stent made from a shape-memorizing alloy comprised of nickel and titanium, wherein the method performs shape-memorization of a zigzag shape by using a shape-memorizing alloyed wire not having been subject to shape-memorization with a straight shape.

2. A method of manufacturing a zigzag shaped stent made from a shape-memorizing alloy comprised of nickel and titanium, comprising the steps of:

performing a zigzag shape-memorization process in which a shape-memorizing alloyed wire not having been subject to shape memorization is fixed upon a jig in a zigzag manner;

detaching the zigzag wire from the jig and overlapping and connecting two unengaged end portions of the zigzag wire, and

performing a cylindrical shape-memorization process in which the shape-memorizing alloyed wire having been subject to the zigzag shape-memorization is fixed to a cylindrical jig in a wrapping manner.