Fluid bearing to support stent tubing during laser cutting
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fluid bearing assembly, comprising:
- a housing having a gas inlet port and a fluid inlet port;
a bearing having a plurality of blades and being rotably mounted within the housing so that the bearing is free to rotate without touching the housing;
the gas inlet port being positioned to inject pressurized gas on the plurality of blades to impart rotation to the bearing; and
the fluid inlet port being positioned to inject fluid onto an inner surface of the bearing so that as the bearing rotates, a film of fluid adheres to the inner surface of the bearing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid bearing assembly provides support to stent tubing while the stent tubing is undergoing laser cutting to form a stent pattern. The fluid bearing assembly supports the stent tubing and provides a fluid barrier between the bearing and the stent tubing thereby providing nearly frictionless movement between the support bearing and the stent tubing.
159 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A fluid bearing assembly, comprising:
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a housing having a gas inlet port and a fluid inlet port; a bearing having a plurality of blades and being rotably mounted within the housing so that the bearing is free to rotate without touching the housing; the gas inlet port being positioned to inject pressurized gas on the plurality of blades to impart rotation to the bearing; and the fluid inlet port being positioned to inject fluid onto an inner surface of the bearing so that as the bearing rotates, a film of fluid adheres to the inner surface of the bearing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A fluid bearing assembly for use in laser cutting a stent pattern in tubing, comprising:
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a housing having a gas inlet port and a fluid inlet port; a bearing having a plurality of blades and being rotatably mounted within the housing so that the bearing is free to rotate without touching the housing; a stent tubing positioned within an inner diameter of the bearing; the gas inlet port being positioned to inject pressurized gas on the plurality of blades to impart rotation to the bearing; and the fluid inlet port being positioned to inject fluid onto an inner surface of the bearing so that as the bearing rotates, a film of fluid adheres to the inner surface of the bearing and the film of fluid is between the inner surface of the bearing and an outer surface of the stent tubing. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of supporting a stent tubing for laser cutting a pattern in a stent, comprising:
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providing a computer controlled laser cutting assembly; providing a fluid bearing assembly having a bearing within a housing; inserting a stent tubing through the fluid bearing assembly and into a collet on the laser cutting assembly; simultaneously rotating the bearing in the fluid bearing assembly and injecting a fluid onto an inner surface of the bearing; and forming a film of fluid on the inner surface of the bearing so that as the collet rotates and translates the stent tubing the fluid film provides friction reducing barrier between the inner surface of the bearing and an outer surface of the stent tubing. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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Specification