Patent ID: 6063092
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: A61F,A61M

Abstract:
A method for manufacturing a stent delivery catheter which comprises the steps of:crimping an expandable stent over an inflatable balloon to create a balloon-stent assembly, the stent having a plurality of elements defining a lumen for receiving the balloon therein, each element having a width and a thickness with at least one opening defined by said elements;positioning a tubular covering around the balloon-stent assembly to accommodate the balloon-stent assembly inside the tubular covering;shrinking a shrink wrap onto the tubular covering to limit any substantial expansion of the tubular covering to constrain the balloon-stent assembly inside the tube;pressurizing the constrained balloon-stent assembly with an inflation pressure;heating the pressurized balloon-stent assembly to permanently deform the balloon and embed the stent into the balloon to retain the stent on the balloon; andremoving the shrink wrap and the tubular covering from the balloon-stent assembly.