Patent ID: 9198785
Filing Date: 2015-12-01
Classification: A61F,A61L,B21D,B29C,B29K,B29L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method making a medical device, comprising: (a) providing a polymeric tube; (b) changing at least one of the mechanical properties of the tube; (c) cutting a pattern into the tube by a laser process, wherein the pattern includes: (i) a set of rings including a proximal end ring, a distal end ring opposing the proximal end ring, and middle rings positioned between the end rings, wherein each ring is associated with its direct neighboring ring by links, and wherein at least one pair of neighboring middle rings can be delineated, via corresponding links there between, into closed cells comprising a W- or a general W-shaped zone included within the closed cells; (ii) at least one of the links being a marker link, the marker link having a first part-cylindrical protrusion off a first side wall of the marker link for holding a first marker and a second part-cylindrical protrusion off a second, opposite side wall of the marker link for holding a second marker, wherein the first and second protrusions are symmetrically aligned off of the marker link and are not longitudinally off-set from one another off of the marker link; and (iii) wherein the polymeric tube is cut by the laser such that the set of rings and links are shaped to have a minimum crimped diameter such that in the minimum crimped diameter, a pair of rings, between which the marker link resides, do not make contact with a bulging perimeter of the first and second protrusions; and (d) placing the first and second markers in the protrusions and forming a stent; (e) crimping the stent to a crimped diameter on a section of a catheter delivery assembly, wherein the crimping includes heating the polymeric stent to a target temperature, such that the pair of rings, between which the marker link resides, do not make contact with the bulging perimeter of the first and second protrusions in the crimped diameter, whereby a medical device comprising the stent and catheter is produced.