Stents with radiopaque markers

Abstract

Various embodiments of stents with radiopaque markers disposed within depots in the stent, are described herein.

1 . A stent comprising a deformed radiopaque marker disposed in a depot in a portion of the stent, the marker being coupled to the portion at least partially by an interference fit between an expanded portion of the marker and an internal surface of the portion of the stent within the depot, wherein at least some gaps between the deformed marker and the internal surface are filled with a polymeric coating material, and wherein the marker comprises sufficient radiopacity to be imaged by an imaging technique.  
     
     
         2 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the marker further comprises at least one compressed portion, the expanded and compressed portions arising from deforming an undeformed or partially deformed marker disposed within the depot.  
     
     
         3 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the depot is cylindrically-shaped.  
     
     
         4 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the depot extends partially or completely through the portion of the stent.  
     
     
         5 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the stent comprises a biostable and/or biodegradable polymer.  
     
     
         6 . A method of fabricating a stent, comprising: 
 disposing a radiopaque marker in a depot in a portion of the stent;    compressing the marker to couple the marker within the depot, wherein compressing the marker expands a portion of the marker within the depot to create an interference fit between the expanded portion and an internal surface of the stent within the depot; and    applying a coating material to fill at least some gaps between the deformed marker and the internal surface.    
     
     
         7 . A stent comprising a radiopaque marker disposed in a depot in a portion of the stent, the marker being coupled to the stent at least partially by an interference fit between the marker and a deformed portion of the stent adjacent to the depot, and wherein the marker comprises sufficient radiopacity to be imaged by an imaging technique.  
     
     
         8 . The stent of  claim 7 , wherein the marker is undeformed or substantially undeformed after being coupled to the stent.  
     
     
         9 . The stent of  claim 7 , wherein the depot is cylindrically-shaped.  
     
     
         10 . The stent of  claim 7 , wherein the depot extends partially or completely through the portion of the stent.  
     
     
         11 . The stent of  claim 7 , wherein the stent comprises a biostable and/or biodegradable polymer.  
     
     
         12 . The stent of  claim 7 , wherein the marker is spherically-shaped or cylindrically-shaped.  
     
     
         13 . The stent of  claim 7 , wherein the deformed portion of the stent within the depot comprises deformable projections adapted to deform when the marker is disposed in the depot to facilitate coupling of the marker to the stent.  
     
     
         14 . The stent of  claim 13 , wherein the projections comprise ridges that are parallel, perpendicular, or between parallel and perpendicular to an axis of the depot.  
     
     
         15 . The stent of  claim 7 , wherein the depot comprises a cross-section different from a cross-section of the marker so that when the marker is disposed with the depot, the portion of the stent may deform to change the cross-section of the depot to accommodate the marker.  
     
     
         16 . A stent comprising a radiopaque marker disposed in a depot in a portion of the stent that is configured to accommodate the marker, wherein a surface of the portion adjacent to the depot includes a recess, the recess facilitating deformation of the portion when the marker is disposed within the depot so as to facilitate coupling of the marker to the portion.  
     
     
         17 . The stent of  claim 16 , wherein the recess comprises a groove in communication with the depot.  
     
     
         18 . The stent of  claim 16 , wherein the depot extends partially or completely through the portion of the stent.  
     
     
         19 . The stent of  claim 16 , wherein the stent comprises a biostable and/or biodegradable polymer.  
     
     
         20 . The stent of  claim 16 , wherein the marker is spherically-shaped or cylindrically-shaped.  
     
     
         21 . A stent comprising a marker disposed within a depot in a portion of the stent, the stent having regions with a lower strain than other higher strain portions when the stent is placed under an applied stress during use, the depot being selectively positioned in a selected region of lower strain.  
     
     
         22 . The stent of  claim 21 , wherein the region of lower strain comprises a straight or substantially straight structural element of the stent.  
     
     
         23 . The stent of  claim 21 , wherein the stent comprises a biostable and/or biodegradable polymer.  
     
     
         24 . The stent of  claim 21 , wherein the selected region of the structural element is modified to have a higher mass than a region of lower strain without a marker so as to maintain the load-bearing capability of the selected region and inhibit decoupling of the marker from the stent.