Deformation of a polymer tube in the fabrication of a medical article

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9480553-B2
Application number	US-201414289582-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 28, 2014
Priority date	Sep 30, 2004
Publication date	Nov 1, 2016
Grant date	Nov 1, 2016

Abstract

Methods of manufacturing a medical article that include radial deformation of a polymer tube are disclosed. A medical article, such as an implantable medical device or an inflatable member, may be fabricated from a deformed tube.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for fabricating a stent, comprising:
using a tube made from a polymer comprising poly(L-lactide);
inducing crystallization in the tube comprising treating at least a portion of the tube with an alcohol;
radially and axially deforming the tube including radially deforming the tube between 100% and 400% while the tube has a temperature equal to or above the glass transition temperature of the polymer of the tube; and
fabricating the stent from the deformed and treated tube.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein inducing crystallization occurs before the deforming step and lowers the glass transition temperature of the polymer,
wherein the temperature during the radial and axial deformation is above the lowered glass transition temperature.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tube is at least partially immersed in the alcohol or spraying the tube with the alcohol.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least the portion of the tube is treated with the alcohol prior to, contemporaneously with, and/or subsequent to deforming the tube.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tube is cooled after the radial and axial deformation.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fabricating the stent includes forming struts including straight and curved portions.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tube is heated prior to deforming the tube.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tube has a diameter of between 1 mm and 3 mm.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tube is made by extrusion and comprises an outer diameter and an inner diameter.

10. A method for fabricating a stent, comprising:
making a cylindrical tube from a polymer comprising poly(L-lactide), the tube having an inner and outer diameter;
treating at least a portion of the tube with an alcohol;
radially and axially deforming the tube including radially deforming the tube between 100% and 400% while the tube has a temperature equal to or above the glass transition temperature of the polymer of the tube; and
making the stent from the deformed tube; including laser cutting the tube to form a pattern of interconnected struts in the tube;
wherein the tube is an extruded tube.

11. A method for fabricating a stent, comprising:
making a cylindrical tube from a polymer, the tube having an inner and outer diameter;
treating at least a portion of the tube with a solvent;
radially and axially deforming the tube including radially deforming the tube between 100% and 400% while the tube has a temperature equal to or above the glass transition temperature of the polymer of the tube; and
making the stent from the deformed tube, including laser cutting the tube to form a pattern of interconnected struts in the tube;
wherein the solvent is an alcohol and the polymer comprises poly (L-lactide).

Assignees

• Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc

Inventors

• Huang Bin
• Durcan Jonathan P

Classifications

• B29K2067/046

  PLA, i.e. polylactic acid or polylactide · CPC title

• B29L2023/007

  Medical tubes other than catheters (catheters B29L2031/7542) · CPC title

• B29K2995/006

  Bio-degradable, e.g. bioabsorbable, bioresorbable or bioerodible · CPC title

• A61F2/07 Primary

  Stent-grafts · CPC title

• A61F2240/001

  Designing or manufacturing processes · CPC title