Method for retaining a vascular stent on a catheter

• US 8,221,112 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2011
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: McNiven, Sean, Durcan, Jonathan, Knott, Boyd V., Stigall, Jeremy
• Primary Examiner(s): Davis, Robert B
• Application Number:
  US13/091,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20110203739A1
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 249/111, 249/170, 425/522, 425/470
• US Class Current: 425/522
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9522 Means for mounting a stent or stent-graft onto or into a placement instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/2017 outside the article
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/2412 outside the article
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/08 Preforms made of several individual parts, e.g. by welding or gluing parts together
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/3807 Resin-bonded materials, e.g. inorganic particles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/3828 Moulds made of at least two different materials having different thermal conductivities
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/20 of articles having inserts or reinforcements ; Handling of inserts or reinforcements
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/24 Lining or labelling
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/258 Tubular
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7542 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49913 by constricting outer annulus

Abstract

A method of securely mounting a stent on a balloon of a catheter. The method generally includes crimping a stent on a balloon of a catheter at least one time, and positioning the balloon with the stent thereon within a polished bore of a mold formed at least in part of a metallic material. The balloon is pressurized and heated within the mold, or within a sheath, in two stages as the stent is restrained from radially expanding. The method may include crimping the stent onto the balloon one or two times during processing. The method increases retention of the stent on the balloon catheter following sterilization.

Claims

1. A mold for mounting a stent on a balloon catheter, comprising:

a mold having a first half and a mating second half and having a longitudinal bore having a constant bore diameter the length of the mold;

the mold having a wall thickness in the range from 0.25 mm (0.00984 inch) to 0.50 mm (0.01969 inch); and

the mold being formed from a first material and a second material, the second material being substantially less heat conducting than the first material.

2. The mold of claim 1, wherein the first material is a metal.

3. The mold of claim 2, wherein the second material is a non-metal.

4. The mold of claim 3, wherein the second material is formed from a polymer material.

5. The mold of claim 4, wherein the polymer material includes a polyetheretherketone or a machinable polyimide.

6. The mold of claim 3, wherein the second material is a ceramic.

7. The mold of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal bore has a metallic portion and a non-metallic portion.

8. The mold of claim 7, wherein the non-metallic portion of the longitudinal bore being substantially less heat conducting than the metallic portion of the longitudinal bore.

9. The mold of claim 7, wherein the non-metallic portion of the longitudinal bore being formed from a polymer material.

10. The mold of claim 9, wherein the polymer material includes a polyetheretherketone or a machinable polyimide.

11. The mold of claim 7, wherein the non-metallic portion of the longitudinal bore has a length that substantially corresponds to the length of the stent being mounted on the balloon catheter.

12. The mold of claim 7, wherein the metallic portion of the longitudinal bore has a length that substantially corresponds with a distal portion and a proximal portion of the balloon that extends beyond the length of the stent.

13. The mold of claim 1, wherein the first half of the mold is hinged to the second half.

14. A mold for mounting a stent on a balloon catheter, comprising:

a mold having a first half and a second half and having a longitudinal bore having a constant bore diameter the length of the mold;

the mold having a wall thickness in the range from 0.25 mm (0.00984 inch) to 0.50 mm (0.01969 inch); and

the longitudinal bore being formed from a first material and a second material, the second material being substantially less heat conducting than the first material.

15. The mold of claim 14, wherein the first material is a metal.

16. The mold of claim 15, wherein the second material is a non-metal.

17. The mold of claim 16, wherein the second material is formed from a polymer material.

18. The mold of claim 17, wherein the polymer material includes a polyetheretherketone or a machinable polyimide.

19. The mold of claim 16, wherein the second material is a ceramic.

20. The mold of claim 16, wherein the non-metallic portion of the longitudinal bore has a length that substantially corresponds to the length of the stent being mounted on the balloon catheter.

21. The mold of claim 15, wherein the metallic portion of the longitudinal bore has a length that substantially corresponds with a distal portion and a proximal portion of the balloon that extends beyond the length of the stent.