Patent ID: 6344055
Filing Date: 2002-02-05
Classification: A61F,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A process for producing a stent comprising a proximal end and a distal end in communication with one another, a tubular wall disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, the tubular wall having a longitudinal axis and a porous surface defined by a plurality of interconnecting struts, a series of the struts connected to one another at an interconnection point, the struts being reversibly hingable and plastically bendable at the interconnection point between a first, unrestrained contracted position and a second, expanded position, the process comprising the steps of:(i) selectively removing portions of a solid tubular wall having a diameter substantially the same as that of the stent in the second position to define multiple sections of the porous surface connected to one another by a series of axially disposed connecting members; (ii) radially compressing the stent in the second position to plastically bend the struts at the interconnection point thereby producing the stent in the first position, said radially compressing step comprising the step of applying a radially inward force on the multiple sections and the connecting members such that the multiple sections have a diameter substantially the same as that of the stent in the first position; and (iii) removing the connecting members between the multiple sections to produce the stent in the first position.