Multiple beam laser system for forming stents

• US 9,006,604 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2013
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Chen, Li, Von Oepen, Randolf
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, MICHAEL MANH
• Application Number:
  US13/914,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20130313236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 219/121.6, 219/121.68, 219/121.72, 219/121.76, 623/1.15, 623/1.34
• US Class Current: 219/121.6
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• 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: A61M 25/0013 Weakening parts of a catheter tubing, e.g. by making cuts in the tube or reducing thickness of a layer at one point to adjust the flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0604 by a combination of beams
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0626 Energy control of the laser beam B23K26/0622 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/064 by means of optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors or prisms
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/067 Dividing the beam into multiple beams, e.g. multifocusing
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/324 involving non-metallic parts
• 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 26/362 Laser etching
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/38 by boring or cutting

Abstract

A system and method for precision cutting using multiple laser beams is described. The system and method includes a combination of optical components that split the output of a single laser into multiple beams, with the power, polarization status and spot size of each split beam being individually controllable, while providing a circularly polarized beam at the surface of a work piece to be cut by the laser beam. A system and method for tracking manufacture of individual stents is also provided.

Claims

1. A laser system for cutting and identifying multiple stents, comprising:

a laser system having a plurality of laser beams generated from an output of a single laser for cutting patterns into a plurality of stents at the same time, with each of the plurality of laser beams being controllable to produce a desired power, polarization and spot size and each laser beam directed at a separate stent work piece;

a laser capable of emitting a linearly polarized laser beam;

at least one partially transmissive and partially reflective beam splitter capable of dividing the laser beam emitted by the laser into two laser beams;

a focusing lens for focusing each laser beam to a desired spot size;

a circularly polarized beam spot for each laser beam is controlled to accurately cut through a wall of each stent work piece upon which each laser beam impinges; and

a computer controlled locating fixture for moving each stent work piece in a selected manner beneath the laser beam to etch a surface of each stent work piece with identifying information without cutting through the wall of each stent work piece.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the surface includes a tag upon which the identifying information is etched by the laser beam.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifying information is a bar code.