US6019784A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for making electroformed stents
Assignee: ROITBERG BEN Z
•
Filing: 1997-04-03
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Granted: 2000-02-01
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Expires: 2017-04-03
Abstract
Abstract This invention is directed to an expandable stent useful for implantation into an artery or the like. The stents are made using electroforming techniques in which an electrically-conductive mandrel is coated with a suitable resist material, after which the resist is exposed to an appropriate light pattern and frequency so as to form a stent pattern in the resist. The mandrel is then electroplated with a suitable stent material. The mandrel is etched away once a sufficient layer of stent material is deposited, leaving a completed stent.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard A. Hines
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:26
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25D; C25D1/00; C25D1/08; C25D5/00; C25D5/02; C25D5/022; C25D5/10; C25D5/48; A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/82; A61F2/86; A61F2/90; A61F2/91
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
A process for producing a stent by electroforming comprising the steps of: coating a mandrel with a resist; exposing portions of said resist to a light pattern so as to form a stent pattern on said mandrel in said resist; plating metal onto said mandrel in said stent pattern so as to form a stent; and dissolving said mandrel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
A process for producing a stent by electroforming comprising the steps of: coating a mandrel with a resist; exposing portions of said resist to a light pattern so as to form a stent pattern on said mandrel in said resist; plating metal onto said mandrel in said stent pattern so as to form a stent; and dissolving said mandrel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resist is photosensitive and comprising the additional step of: developing said resist subsequent to the step of exposing portions of said resist.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein said plating metal is an alloy comprising from about 95 to about 100 percent of a metal selected from the group consisting of gold, platinum, and nickel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein said plating metal is an alloy comprising metal selected from the group consisting of gold, platinum, nickel, iron, silver, rhodium, and palladium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as claimed in claim 2 in which said mandrel is a metal selected from the group consisting of copper and aluminum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as claimed in claim 2 in which said mandrel is an angioplasty balloon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein said plating metal is a first metal, further comprising the step of plating a second metal onto said stent subsequent to the step of removing said mandrel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
10 words
The product of the process as claimed in claim 2.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
78 words
A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein the step of exposing portions of said resist to a light pattern consists of conducting light produced by light-emitting diodes through optical fibers so as to expose said stent image in said photoresist and wherein said optical fibers have output ends which are constrained in a ring configuration, said ring defining a center, and which output ends are positioned so as to focus light at the center of said ring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
The product of the process as claimed in claim 9.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of exposing portions of said resist to a light pattern consists of selectively removing resist with a laser to form said stent pattern.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
91 words
A process for producing a stent by electroforming comprising the steps of: coating an electrically-conductive mandrel, which mandrel has an exterior surface, with a resist material which is photosensitive onto said exterior surface; exposing portions of said resist material to a light pattern so as to form a stent pattern on said mandrel in said resist; developing said resist material so as to expose a stent pattern on said exterior surface of said mandrel; plating metal onto said mandrel in a stent pattern to form a stent; and dissolving said mandrel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
A process for producing a stent by electroforming comprising the steps of: coating an electrically-conductive mandrel, which mandrel has an exterior surface, with a resist material which is photosensitive onto said exterior surface; exposing portions of said resist material to a light pattern so as to form a stent pattern on said mandrel in said resist; developing said resist material so as to expose a stent pattern on said exterior surface of said mandrel; plating metal onto said mandrel in a stent pattern to form a stent; and dissolving said mandrel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process as claimed in claim 12 wherein said plating metal is an alloy comprising from about 95 to about 100 percent of a metal selected from the group consisting of gold, platinum, and nickel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process as claimed in claim 12 wherein said plating metal is an alloy comprising metal selected from the group consisting of gold, platinum, nickel, iron, silver, rhodium, and palladium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
78 words
A process as claimed in claim 14 wherein the step of exposing portions of said resist to a light pattern consists of conducting light produced by light-emitting diodes through optical fibers so as to expose said stent image in said resist and wherein said optical fibers have output ends which are constrained in a ring configuration, said ring defining a center, and which output ends are positioned so as to focus light at the center of said ring.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
10 words
The product of the process as claimed in claim 14.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-01-31 | 2003-08-02 | 2004-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-31 | 2007-08-02 | 2008-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-31 | 2011-08-02 | 2012-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |