Patent ID: 8679394
Filing Date: 2014-03-25
Classification: A61F,B23K

Abstract:
1. A method of laser machining a substrate to form a stent, comprising: providing a polymer substrate comprising a wall; and laser machining the polymer substrate with a laser beam with a pulse width and wavelength that cuts through the wall to form structural elements having a machined edge surface, wherein the laser beam modifies the substrate in a surface region adjacent to the machined edge surface, wherein the modifications include voids, cracks, variation in modulus of the polymer with distance from the edge surface, or a combination thereof, wherein the wavelength of the laser beam is within the green range and the pulse width is 1-15 ps, and selecting the pulse width and wavelength so that the voids or cracks are present at no greater than a depth of 2 microns or the modulus converges at no greater than 4 microns.