Radio frequency identification monitoring of stents

• US 9,772,299 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2015
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Freeman, Abigail, Gale, David C., Huang, Bin, Castro, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): West, Paul
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shabman, Mark A
• Application Number:
  US14/609,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20150146758A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/06 Blood vessels
• 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 2250/0085 Identification means; Administration of patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/081 Gamma radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/082 X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/085 Infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/087 Particle radiation, e.g. electron-beam, alpha or beta radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/72 Investigating presence of flaws

Abstract

A method and system of monitoring environmental exposure of stents using radiofrequency identification is disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing an implantable medical device disposed within a sealed container, wherein the device comprises a bioabsorbable stent crimped over a delivery balloon, wherein the stent comprises a scaffolding including a network of interconnecting structural elements that comprise a polylactide-based polymer;

disposing the container in a freezer;

monitoring a temperature of exposure of the device in the freezer with a sensor disposed on the container; and

comparing the monitored temperature to a temperature tolerance,

wherein if the temperature tolerance is exceeded, a flag is generated that alerts potential users that the stent may be or is defective.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein exceeding the temperature tolerance comprises exceeding a maximum temperature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein exceeding the temperature tolerance comprises exceeding a time-temperature tolerance comprising a maximum time above a selected temperature.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring a temperature of exposure of the device during shipping of the device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the container is disposed within a box and the container is a foil pouch.