Patent ID: 8414814

Claim:
A method of making a polymer stent with enhanced mechanical strength comprising the steps of: (a) dip-coating a mandrel with a solution comprising one or more biocompatible polymers to form a polymer tube; (b) spin-drying the polymer tube around its longitudinal axis; (c) solvent-polishing and vacuum drying the polymer tube; (d) repeating steps a-c until the polymer tube reaches a desired thickness; (e) necking the polymer tube by drawing the mandrel bearing the polymer tube through one or more necking dies of decreasing diameter, wherein said necking is carried out at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the polymer and below the melting temperature of the polymer; (f) annealing the polymer tube with an inert gas; (g) removing the polymer tube from the mandrel; and (h) creating a design in said polymer tube.