Patent ID: 6537459
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: A61F,C23F

Abstract:
A process for the manufacture of flexible cylindrical stents comprising:a) providing a hollow metal tube with an open pattern of a chemical-etch-resistant coating layer; b) applying a fine particulate slurry using mild agitation to said open pattern of said tube so as to ensure that each physically exposed surface of said open pattern is substantially uniform; c) supporting said hollow metal tube with a coating thereon on a chemical etch resistant support element; d) contacting the open pattern with a solution capable of etching the metal of the hollow metal tube so that said metal is etched away from physically exposed surfaces of the metal tube and openings in the metal tube corresponding to the open pattern of the coating layer are created in the metal tube element without etching said chemical etch resistant support element; and e) removing said metal tube from said chemical etch resistant support element.