Expandable stents and method for making same

• US 7,513,907 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Frantzen, John J., Hartigan, William M., Lau, Lilip
• Primary Examiner(s): GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J
• Application Number:
  US11/112,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20050192663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 623 111- 116, 606/198, 295/57
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/848 having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs
• 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 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/89 the wire-like elements comprising two or more adjacent rings flexibly connected by separate members
• 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 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9155 Adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91575 connected peak to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0019 operated at only one temperature whilst inside or touching the human body, e.g. constrained in a non-operative shape during surgery, another temperature only occurring before the operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1081 having sheaths or the like for covering the balloon but not forming a permanent part of the balloon, e.g. retractable, dissolvable or tearable sheaths
• CPC Class Codes: C23F 1/02 Local etching
• CPC Class Codes: C23F 1/04 Chemical milling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/901 Method of manufacturing prosthetic device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/903 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/921 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49995 Shaping one-piece blank by removing material

Abstract

The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as an artery, and a method for making it from a single length of tubing. The stent consists of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common axis and interconnected by one or more interconnective elements. The individual radially expandable cylindrical elements consist of ribbon-like material disposed in an undulating pattern. Portions of the expanded stent project outwardly into engagement with the vessel wall to more securely attach the stent.

Claims

1. A method of chemically etching a metallic member to form an intravascular stent, comprising:

applying a photoresistive coating to a metallic surface of the metallic member;

selectively removing portions of the photoresistive coating from the metallic surface thereby providing exposed portions of the metallic surface and protected portions of the metallic surface;

exposing the metallic surface to a chemical etchant solution thereby removing a full thickness of the metallic member to form a pattern generally corresponding to the exposed portions of the metallic surface;

removing the photoresistive coating; and

electrochemically polishing the metallic member in a solution having at least an acid and a corrosion inhibitor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the metallic surface is curved and selective removal of portions of the resistive coating from the curved metallic surface provides the stent pattern.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the curved metallic surface is in the form of a tubular member and the photoresistive coating is applied to an outer surface of the tubular member.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein prior to removing selected portions of the photoresistive coating, inserting a substance into the tubular member to protect an inner surface of the tubular member from the chemical etchant solution.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein softened wax is inserted into the tubular member.