Apparatus and methods for stent manufacture

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for manufacture of bifurcated stents are disclosed. The apparatus can include a base having a first mount, a second mount and a third mount. The first mount, the second mount and the third mount can be configured to secure a first mandrel, a second mandrel and a third mandrel at positions relative to one another. The mandrels may be configured to receive two or more mono-tubular stents so that the stents or components of the stents may be secured to one another to form a bifurcated stent.

1 . An apparatus for manufacture of a bifurcated stent, comprising:
 a base including a first mount, a second mount, and a third mount, the base defining a lower surface adapted to be stably received on a work surface,   a first mandrel defining a first tip, the first mandrel secured to the first mount at one of a plurality of first desired positions along the first mandrel;   a second mandrel defining a second tip, the second mandrel secured to the second mount at one of a plurality of second desired positions along the second mandrel;   a third mandrel defining a third tip, the third mandrel secured to the third mount at one of a plurality of third desired positions along the third mandrel;   each of the first mandrel, the second mandrel and the third mandrel being securable in at least one position that places the first tip, the second tip, and the third tip adjacent to one another.   
   
   
       2 . An apparatus, as in  claim 1 , further comprising the first mount defining at least a first mandrel receiving passage, the second mount defining at least a second mandrel receiving passage and the third mount defining at least a third mandrel receiving passage, the first mandrel receiving passage defining a first longitudinal axis, the second mandrel receiving passage defining a second longitudinal axis and the third mandrel receiving passage defining a third longitudinal axis, the first mandrel slidably positioned within the first mandrel receiving passage, the second mandrel slidably received within the second mandrel receiving passage, and the third mandrel slidably received in the third mandrel receiving passage. 
   
   
       3 . An apparatus, as in  claim 2 , further comprising a first set screw lumen intersecting the first mandrel receiving passage and a first set screw threadably received within the first set screw lumen to secure the first mandrel relative to the base; a second set screw lumen intersecting the second mandrel receiving passage and a second set screw threadably received within the second set screw lumen to secure the second mandrel relative to the base; and a third set screw lumen intersecting the third mandrel receiving passage and a third set screw threadably received within the third set screw lumen to secure the third mandrel relative to the base. 
   
   
       4 . An apparatus, as in  claim 2 , further comprising the first longitudinal axis, the second longitudinal axis, and the third longitudinal axis intersecting at a central point. 
   
   
       5 . An apparatus, as in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 the first mandrel receiving passage including a first internal thread and the first mandrel including a first external thread, the first external thread of the first mandrel threadably received within the first internal thread of the first mandrel receiving passage to permit the rotational positioning of the first mandrel within the first mandrel receiving passage;   the second mandrel receiving passage including a second internal thread and the second mandrel including a second external thread, the second external thread of the second mandrel threadably received within the second internal thread of the second mandrel receiving passage to permit the rotational positioning of the second mandrel within the second mandrel receiving passage; and   the third mandrel receiving passage including a third internal thread and the third mandrel including a third external thread, the third external thread of the third mandrel threadably received within the third internal thread of the third mandrel receiving passage to permit the rotational positioning of the third mandrel within the third mandrel receiving passage.   
   
   
       6 . An apparatus, as in  claim 5 , further comprising a first knob secured to a first outer end of the first mandrel, a second knob secured to a second outer end of the second mandrel, and a third knob secured to a third outer end of the third mandrel. 
   
   
       7 . An apparatus, as in  claim 1 , further comprising the base defining an orifice positioned about a central point and extending through the base between the lower surface and an upper surface. 
   
   
       8 . An apparatus, as in  claim 1 , further comprising the base defining a cavity positioned about a central point and extending into the upper surface of the base.