Laser cutting process for forming stents

• US 8,872,062 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2010
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chen, Li, Yribarren, Travis, Von Oepen, Randolf, Ku, Yu-Chun
• Primary Examiner(s): Heinrich, Samuel M
• Application Number:
  US12/699,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20100193483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,728 Days
• Field of Search: 219/121.61, 219/121.62, 21912167-12172
• US Class Current: 219/121.67
• 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 2002/91566 connected trough to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2240/001 Designing or manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0626 Energy control of the laser beam B23K26/0622 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0823 Devices involving rotation of the workpiece
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/36 Removing material B23K26/55, B23K26/57 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/361 for deburring or mechanical trimming B23K26/351 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/38 by boring or cutting

Abstract

Systems and methods for improving the cutting efficiency and cut profile of stent strut is provided. A means for altering the energy distribution of a laser beam is provided, along with various ways of controlling a laser to provide for improved strut configurations are provided. A method for improved cutting speeds using a combination of laser sources is also provided.

Claims

1. A laser cutting system for cutting a stent pattern into a stent, comprising:

a pico-second laser for producing a laser beam;

a laser-shaping module capable of altering the intensity profile of the laser beam from a first intensity distribution to a second intensity distribution, the second intensity distribution being a top hat intensity distribution;

a collimating lens; and

a focusing lens for focusing the laser beam having the top hat intensity distribution onto a stent tube;

wherein the laser beam having the top hat intensity distribution is controlled to cut a stent strut having a steep sidewall and improved geometrical uniformity than can be obtained with a laser beam having a Gaussian intensity distribution.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the laser-shaping module re-maps the first intensity distribution of the laser beam to the second intensity distribution.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first intensity distribution is a Gaussian intensity distribution.