Method and apparatus for etching-manufacture of cylindrical elements

Abstract

A process is described for the manufacture of flexible tubular elements, particularly stents for the medical field, the process comprising the steps of: a) providing a hollow metal tube (or metal coated tube) with an open pattern of a chemical-etch-resistant coating layer; b) supporting the hollow metal tube with a coating thereon onto a chemical etch resistant support element; c) contacting the open pattern with a solution capable of etching the metal of the hollow metal tube so that said metal is etched away from physically exposed surfaces of the metal tube and openings in the metal tube corresponding to the open pattern of the coating layer are created in the metal tube element without etching the chemical etch resistant support element; and d) removing the metal tube from the chemical etch resistant support element.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A process for the manufacture of a stent comprising: 
 coating a hollow metal tube with a photosensitive resist coating layer;    supporting the metal tube on a rotatable support;    radiating said photosensitive resist coating layer as to alter its relative solubility in a desired pattern;    performing said radiating while rotating said support;    washing said photoresist from said metal tube;    substantially sealing an internal surface of said hollow metal tube; and,    contacting said hollow metal tube with etchant material which etches away metal from said hollow metal tube according to said desired pattern.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein sealing the internal surface of said hollow metal tube is performed by mounting said hollow metal tube on a support element.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein an external diameter of said support element substantially seals against an internal diameter of said hollow metal tube.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein said support element is substantially etch resistant.  
     
     
         5 . A process for the manufacture of a stent comprising: 
 coating a hollow metal tube with a photosensitive resist coating layer;    supporting the metal tube on a rotatable support;    radiating said photosensitive resist coating layer as to alter its relative solubility in a desired pattern;    performing said radiating while rotating said support;    washing said photoresist from said metal tube;    contacting said hollow metal tube with etchant material that etches away metal from said hollow metal tube according to said desired pattern; and,    preventing said etchant material from contacting internal surfaces of said hollow metal tube.    
     
     
         6 . A process according to  claim 5 , wherein preventing said etchant material from contacting internal surfaces of said hollow metal tube is performed by mounting said hollow metal tube on a support tube prior to contacting said hollow metal tube with etchant material.  
     
     
         7 . A process according to  claim 6 , wherein an external diameter of said support tube is only slightly less than an internal diameter of said hollow metal tube.  
     
     
         8 . A process according to  claim 7 , wherein said support tube is substantially etch resistant.  
     
     
         9 . A process according to  claim 8 , wherein said support tube is longer than said hollow metal tube.  
     
     
         10 . A process for the manufacture of a stent comprising: 
 coating a hollow metal tube with a photosensitive resist coating layer;    supporting the metal tube on a rotatable support;    radiating said photosensitive resist coating layer as to alter its relative solubility in a desired pattern;    washing said photoresist from said metal tube; and,    contacting only an external surface of said hollow metal tube with etchant material that etches away metal from said hollow metal tube according to said desired pattern.    
     
     
         11 . A process according to  claim 10 , wherein contacting only an external surface of said hollow metal tube is performed by substantially sealing an internal surface of said hollow metal tube from said etchant material.  
     
     
         12 . A process according to  claim 11 , wherein sealing of said internal surface is performed by introducing a support tube into said hollow metal tube.  
     
     
         13 . A process according to  claim 12 , wherein said support tube has an external diameter only slightly less than an internal diameter of said hollow metal tube.  
     
     
         14 . A process according to  claim 12 , wherein said support tube is greater in length than said hollow metal tube.