Patent ID: 8430923

Claim:
A method for making a radiopaque stent, comprising: forming a tube from a cobalt chromium alloy that comprises cobalt, chromium and one or more radiopaque materials, the one or more radiopaque materials being selected from elements with atomic numbers from 56 to 79, the tube having a peripheral exterior surface and an interior surface; and shaping the tube to form the radiopaque stent such that substantially the entirety of the stent is fabricated from the cobalt chromium alloy including the one or more radiopaque materials, shaping the tube including removing portions of the tube and leaving relatively untouched portions to form the radiopaque stent, the peripheral exterior surface of the relatively untouched portions forming a stent peripheral exterior surface of the radiopaque stent and the interior surface of the relatively untouched portions forming a stent interior surface of the radiopaque stent, wherein the radiopaque stent exhibits an ultimate elongation greater than about 20%.