Patent ID: 8142491
Filing Date: 2012-03-27
Classification: A61F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for fabricating a stent for insertion into a vessel of a patient, the stent having a first smaller diameter for percutaneous insertion into the vessel an a second larger diameter for deployment in the vessel, the method comprising: a) forming a plurality of only discrete, independent and unconnected hoops by cutting a tube having a thickness and inner and outer diameters into patterns comprising a plurality of longitudinal struts and a plurality of loops connecting adjacent struts to form a continuous serpentine patter around the diameter of each discrete hoop, each of the plurality of longitudinal struts having a luminal surface, an abluminal surface, and side walls extending between the luminal and abluminal surfaces; b) orienting the plurality of discrete hoops in spaced apart relationship along a longitudinal axis; c) vapor depositing a metallic thin film tube having inner and outer diameters; d) affixing the thin film tube to the plurality of hoops; and e) folding the thin film tube along bend lines parallel to the longitudinal axis so that when the stent is in the smaller diameter, the thin film tube is folded between at least some circumferentially adjacent longitudinal struts so as to extend between the side walls of the circumferentially adjacent longitudinal struts.