Patent ID: 7875233
Filing Date: 2011-01-25
Classification: A61F,A61L,B23K

Abstract:
1. A method for fabricating a stent having increased strength, comprising: providing a first polymeric tube having a cylindrical axis; providing a stent pattern defining an orientation and shape of a bending portion of a stent strut relative to the cylindrical axis; applying a radial pressure and axial tension to the tube, including the steps of crimping the stent to create a crimped state of the stent and then examining the stent's mechanical properties when in the crimped state; deploying the stent from the crimped state to a deployed state and then examining the stent's mechanical properties in the deployed state; selecting a new axial and radial draw ratio; providing a second polymeric tube having a cylindrical axis; and repeating the applying, forming, crimping and deploying step using the second tube and the new axial and radial draw ratio.