Patent ID: 8177927
Filing Date: 2012-05-15
Classification: A61B,A61C,A61F,A61L,C22F

Abstract:
1. A method of making a nitinol implantable medical stent with improved fatigue resistance comprising: a) providing an implantable medical stent having an original geometry at body temperature and comprised of shape-set nitinol metal exhibiting superelastic behavior at body temperature; and b) pre-straining the shape-set nitinol metal by the application of a pre-straining bending force to an extent that selectively induces at least about 8.0% tensile strain at or near only a surface of at least one selected location on the nitinol implantable medical stent while maintaining a significant portion of a transverse cross-section of the at least one selected location within its superelastic material limit; c) wherein following release of the pre-straining force, the implantable medical stent returns to, or near to, its original geometry at body temperature.