Patent US2557022A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6131266A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for direct laser cutting of metal stents
Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1998-07-13
•
Granted: 2000-10-17
•
Expires: 2018-07-13
Abstract
Abstract An improved method of making expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as an artery, from a single length of tubing. The stent consists of a plurality of radially expandable cut cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common axis and interconnected by one or more interconnective elements, the elements having a rectangular cross-section from cut-to-cut. The individual radially expandable cylindrical elements are disposed in an undulating pattern. The stent is manufactured by direct laser cutting from a single metal tube using a finely focused laser beam passing through a coaxial gas jet structure to impinge on the working surface of the tube as the linear and rotary velocity of the tube is precisely controlled.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard J. Saunders
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/82; A61F2/86; A61F2/90; A61F2/91; A61F2/915; B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/02; B23K26/06; B23K26/073; B23K26/08; B23K26/0823; B23K26/14; B23K26/142; B23K26/1435; B23K26/1436; B23K26/1438; B23K26/1462; B23K26/1464; B23K26/1476; B23K26/18; B23K26/36; B23K26/40; G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/18; G05B19/182; A61F2002/91508; A61F2002/91533; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0004; A61F2230/0013; B23K2103/00; B23K2103/02; B23K2103/04; B23K2103/05; B23K2103/50; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/45; G05B2219/45041; G05B2219/45171; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49995; Y10T29/49996
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of producing a stent, comprising the steps of: providing a tubular member having a working outer tube surface, an inner tube surface defining an inside diameter of the tubular member, and a tubular wall between the working outer tube surface and the inner tube surface; the tubular wall having a substantially uniform thickness in the range of about 0.002 to 0.005 inch; impinging a laser beam on the working outer tube surface thereby causing the laser beam to cut through the tubular wall; selecting a laser beam focal length to provide a kerf width about 0.0005 inch wide; and providing relative movement between the laser beam and the tubular member to cut a stent pattern.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of producing a stent, comprising the steps of: providing a tubular member having a working outer tube surface, an inner tube surface defining an inside diameter of the tubular member, and a tubular wall between the working outer tube surface and the inner tube surface; the tubular wall having a substantially uniform thickness in the range of about 0.002 to 0.005 inch; impinging a laser beam on the working outer tube surface thereby causing the laser beam to cut through the tubular wall; selecting a laser beam focal length to provide a kerf width about 0.0005 inch wide; and providing relative movement between the laser beam and the tubular member to cut a stent pattern.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the laser beam forms molten slag and by applying a gas jet stream substantially surrounding the laser beam where the beam impinges on the working outer tube surface, the slag re-solidifying along the cut.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the laser beam forms molten slag, the method comprising, after the providing relative movement step, the further step of chemically treating the stent to remove the slag and polish the outer tube surface and the inner tube surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB2070490A
Cited
US4387952A
Cited
US4733665B1
Cited
US4733665A
Cited
US4733665C2
Cited
US5102417A
Cited
EP0364787A1
Cited
US4963022A
Cited
US4994071A
Cited
EP0421729A2
Cited
WO1992006734A1
Cited
US5073694A
Cited
US5345057A
Cited
US5569295A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-10-17 | 2004-04-17 | 2004-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-17 | 2008-04-17 | 2008-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-17 | 2012-04-17 | 2012-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |