Multiple beam laser system for forming stents

• US 9,399,267 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2015
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chen, Li, von Oepen, Randolf
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, MICHAEL MANH
• Application Number:
  US14/939,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20160059348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 257 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 method of simultaneously cutting a pattern into multiple stents using the output of a single laser, comprising:

providing a single laser;

emitting a first linearly polarized laser beam from the single laser;

transmitting and reflecting the first linearly polarized laser beam into a second linearly polarized laser beam and a third linearly polarized laser beam using a first beam splitter;

transmitting and reflecting the second linearly polarized laser beam into a fourth linearly polarized laser beam and a fifth linearly polarized laser beam using a second beam splitter;

transmitting and splitting the third linearly polarized laser beam into a sixth linearly polarized laser beam and a seventh linearly polarized laser beam using a third beam splitter;

positioning a half wave plate in an optical path of each of the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh laser beams, and rotating the half wave plate to alter the polarization direction of each laser beam;

positioning a polarizer in the optical path of each of the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh laser beams and adjusting the laser power of the laser beam at a selected polarization direction;

positioning an adjustable beam expander in the optical path of each of the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh laser beams for adjusting the size of the laser beam;

positioning a quarter-wave plate in the path of each of the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh laser beams after the beam splitter and any intervening mirrors for introducing circular polarization into the laser beams;

using a focusing lens for focusing each of the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh laser beams to a desired spot size; and

controlling a circularly polarized beam spot for each of the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh laser beams to accurately cut the stent pattern into the stent work piece upon which each of the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh laser beam impinges.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical path traveling downstream for each of the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh laser beams includes positioning, in order, the half wave plate, the polarizer, the adjustable beam expander, the quarter wave plate and the focusing lens.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein individually adjusting the respective beam expanders and focusing lenses to individually control the spot size for each of the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh laser beams.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein using a modulator and a switch to independently control the repetition rate, power level and on/off control of each of each of the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh laser beams.