Methods of making medical devices

• US 7,487,579 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2003
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Eidenschink, Thomas C., Stenzel, Eric B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cozart; Jermie E
• Application Number:
  US10/386,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20040181236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,162 Days
• Field of Search: 298/21, 295/15, 295/16, 295/17, 148/558, 623/1.13, 623/1.2, 623/1.42, 724/02
• US Class Current: 29/515
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/01 Filters implantable into blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/86 Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9522 Means for mounting a stent or stent-graft onto or into a placement instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9524 Iris-type crimpers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49925 Inward deformation of aperture or hollow body wall
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49927 Hollow body is axially joined cup or tube
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49929 Joined to rod
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53535 including means to vibrate work

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a medical device, such as an endoprosthesis, includes reducing the size of the medical device, and vibrating the device. In embodiments, the device is vibrated ultrasonically.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing an endoprosthesis, the method comprising:

providing an endoprosthesis having an outer diameter;

reducing the outer diameter of the endoprosthesis, the reduction in outer diameter of the endoprosthesis secures the endoprosthesis to a catheter; and

vibrating the endoprosthesis,

wherein the endoprosthesis is vibrated simultaneously with the reduction in outer diameter of the endoprosthesis.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the endoprosthesis is vibrated ultrasonically.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the reduction in outer diameter of the endoprosthesis secures the endoprosthesis to a balloon.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the entire endoprosthesis is reduced in outer diameter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein only a portion of the endoprosthesis is reduced in outer diameter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the endoprosthesis is vibrated from within the endoprosthesis.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the endoprosthesis is vibrated externally of the endoprosthesis.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating the endoprosthesis.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising cooling the endoprosthesis.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein vibratory energy is directed to the endoprosthesis through a gaseous medium.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein vibratory energy is directed to the endoprosthesis through a liquid medium.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein vibratory energy is directed to the endoprosthesis through a plasma.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein vibratory energy is directed to the endoprosthesis through a supersaturated vapor medium.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the endoprosthesis is vibrated at harmonic or subharmonic frequencies.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the endoprosthesis is vibrated at less than about 1,000 kiloHertz.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the endoprosthesis is vibrated at multiple frequencies.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the endoprosthesis is vibrated at one or more frequencies that vary as a function of time.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the endoprosthesis comprises a stent.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the stent comprises a drug-releasing layer.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the endoprosthesis comprises a stent-graft.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein reducing the outer diameter of endoprosthesis comprises contacting the endoprosthesis in a longitudinal direction with a member.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein reducing the outer diameter of endoprosthesis comprises contacting the endoprosthesis in a longitudinal direction with a roller having a groove.

23. A method of manufacturing an endoprosthesis, the method comprising:

radially reducing the size of the endoprosthesis, the reduction in size of the endoprosthesis securing the endoprosthesis to a support; and

simultaneously applying vibratory energy to the endoprosthesis;

wherein radially reducing the size of the endoprosthesis secures the endoprosthesis to a balloon.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the vibratory energy is ultrasonic energy.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising heating the endoprosthesis.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising cooling the endoprosthesis.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the endoprosthesis comprises a stent.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the endoprosthesis comprises a drug-releasing layer.

29. A method, comprising:

providing an endoprosthesis including a metal body and a polymer layer;

crimping the endoprosthesis; and

applying vibratory energy to the endoprosthesis, wherein vibratory energy is applied during crimping.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the polymer layer is on an outside surface of the metal body.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the polymer layer includes a drug.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the polymer layer is a continuous polymer tubular member.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the polymer include polytetrafluoroethylene.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the endoprosthesis is balloon-expandable.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein vibratory energy is applied by contacting a vibrating member to the endoprosthesis.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein the vibratory energy has a frequency of less than about 1,000 kiloHertz.

37. A method of manufacturing an expandable medical device, the method comprising:

placing the expandable medical device into a crimping apparatus;

reducing the size of the expandable medical device;

applying vibratory energy to the expandable medical device; and

removing the expandable medical device from the crimping apparatus.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the expandable medical device is an endoprosthesis.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein vibratory energy is applied to the expandable medical device simultaneously with the reduction in size of the expandable medical device.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein vibratory energy is applied to the expandable medical device subsequent to the reduction in size of the expandable medical device.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein the expandable medical device is radially reduced in size.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the expandable medical device is a stent.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein the crimping apparatus comprises a first device capable of applying a radial inward force to the expandable medical device and a second device capable of applying energy to the expandable medical device.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the first device is a stent crimping device.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein the second device is a vibrator.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein the second device contacts the first device.

47. A method of manufacturing an expandable medical device, the method comprising, in sequence:

(a) placing the expandable medical device into a crimping apparatus;

(b) reducing the size of the expandable medical device by applying radial inward energy to the expandable medical device;

(c) applying a vibratory energy to the expandable medical device; and

(d) removing the expandable medical device from the crimping apparatus.