Atraumatic stent and method and apparatus for making the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11578437-B2
Application number	US-202117181474-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 22, 2021
Priority date	Jan 26, 2009
Publication date	Feb 14, 2023
Grant date	Feb 14, 2023

Abstract

A method of braiding a stent includes braiding a number of elongate filaments around a mandrel using tensioned braiding carriers without spooling the filaments to the tensioned braiding carriers to form a braided stent having atraumatic ends.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of making a stent comprising:
securing an intermediate portion of each of a plurality of filaments to a first end of a mandrel;
securing at least one end of each of the plurality of filaments to one of a plurality of constant force braiding carriers; and
braiding the plurality of filaments along the mandrel to form the stent while applying and maintaining constant tension from the constant force braiding carriers to the filaments directly within a braiding zone defined by a cone formed by the plurality of filaments extending between the plurality of constant force braiding carriers and the mandrel;
wherein the mandrel includes a plurality of grooves, wherein braiding includes disposing the plurality of filaments into the plurality of grooves.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein braiding is achieved by moving the plurality of constant force braiding carriers in a circular and serpentine motion as the mandrel is longitudinally advanced.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of filaments are metallic.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein maintaining constant tension includes maintaining a constant tension force of from about 0.125 pound-force (about 0.5 Newtons) to about 10 pound-force (45 Newtons).

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein maintaining constant tension includes maintaining a constant tension force of from about 0.25 pound-force (1.1 Newton) to about 5 pound-force (22.2 Newtons).

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein maintaining constant tension includes maintaining a constant tension force of from about 0.5 pound-force (about 2 Newtons) to about 3 pound-force (about 13 Newtons).

7. the method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of filaments are polymeric, wherein maintaining constant tension includes maintaining a constant tension force of from about 0.5 pound-force (about 2 Newtons) to about 1 pound-force (about 4.4 Newtons).

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mandrel has a plurality of spaced apart raised projections defining the grooves therebetween, wherein during the step of braiding the plurality of filaments, the plurality of raised projections provide for a substantially constant braiding angle for the plurality of filaments along an entirety of the stent.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the plurality of raised projections has a pyramid shape with a truncated and/or rounded top portion for guiding the filaments into the grooves.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein braiding includes forming the stent with a flared region at a first end of the stent, the flared region having a larger diameter than a body of the stent, wherein a braiding angle between intersecting braided filaments that is substantially the same along the flared region and the body.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the braiding angle is 110 degrees +/−3 degrees in both the flared region and the body of the stent.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second ends of the plurality of filaments are secured to the plurality of constant force braiding carriers without spooling the filaments to the constant force braiding carriers.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of constant force braiding carriers includes a retractable carrier filament removably secured to one of the plurality of filaments.

14. A method of making a stent comprising:
securing a first portion of each of a plurality of filaments to a mandrel;
securing a second portion of each of the plurality of filaments to one of a plurality of constant force braiding carriers; and
braiding the plurality of filaments along the mandrel to form the stent while applying and maintaining constant tension from the constant force braiding carriers to the filaments directly within a braiding zone defined by a cone formed by the plurality of filaments extending between the plurality of constant force braiding carriers and the mandrel;
wherein the mandrel includes a plurality of grooves, wherein braiding includes disposing the plurality of filaments into the plurality of grooves;
wherein maintaining constant tension includes maintaining a constant tension force of from about 0.125 pound-force (about 0.5 Newtons) to about 10 pound-force (45 Newtons).

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein braiding includes forming the stent with a flared region at a first end, the flared region having a larger diameter than a body of the stent, wherein a braiding angle between intersecting braided filaments that is substantially the same along the flared region and the body.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the braiding angle is 110 degrees +/−3 degrees in both the flared region and the body of the stent.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first and second ends of the plurality of filaments are secured to the plurality of constant force braiding carriers without spooling the filaments to the constant force braiding carriers.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein maintaining constant tension includes maintaining a constant tension force of from about 0.5 pound-force (about 2 Newtons) to about 3 pound-force (about 13 Newtons).

19. A method of making a stent comprising:
securing an intermediate portion of each of a plurality of filaments to a first end of a mandrel;
securing at least one end of each of the plurality of filaments to one of a plurality of constant force braiding carriers; and
braiding the plurality of filaments along the mandrel to form the stent while applying and maintaining constant tension from the constant force braiding carriers to the filaments directly within a braiding zone defined by a cone formed by the plurality of filaments extending between the plurality of constant force braiding carriers and the mandrel;
wherein the first and second ends of the plurality of filaments are secured to the plurality of constant force braiding carriers without spooling the filaments to the constant force braiding carriers.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein each of the plurality of constant force braiding carriers includes a retractable carrier filament removably secured to one of the plurality of filaments.

Assignees

• Boston Scient Scimed Inc
• Boston Scient Scimid Inc

Inventors

• Lilburn Steve
• Norton Paul K
• Zupkofska Michael E
• Bedard Louis
• Harding Glenn

Classifications

• A61F2/82

  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) · CPC title

• A61F2240/00

  Manufacturing or designing of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof · CPC title

• D04C3/48 Primary

  Auxiliary devices · CPC title

• D10B2509/06

  Vascular grafts; stents · CPC title

• A61F2250/0018

  differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility · CPC title