US2008177376A1PendingUtilityA1

Stent With Improved Flexibility and Method for Making Same

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Assignee: MEDTRONIC VASCULAR INCPriority: Jan 18, 2007Filed: Jan 18, 2007Published: Jul 24, 2008
Est. expiryJan 18, 2027(~0.5 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Michael KrivoruchkoJoseph F. Lessar
C21D 2201/01A61F 2/90A61F 2250/0029A61F 2230/0054C21D 7/04B21F 99/00Y10T29/49
56
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Claims

Abstract

A stent and a method for manufacturing a stent are provided. The stent includes a first ring having a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys, a second ring having a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys, and a connector that connects one of the peaks of the first ring to one of the valleys of the second ring. The connected peak of the first ring includes a deformed portion that extends towards the connected valley of the second ring. The method includes forming a first ring having a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys, forming a second ring having a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys, deforming a portion of at least one of the peaks of the first ring, and connecting the deformed portion of the peak of the first ring to one of the valleys of the second ring.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method for manufacturing a stent, the method comprising:
 forming a first ring having a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys;   forming a second ring having a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys;   deforming a portion of at least one of the peaks of the first ring; and   connecting the deformed portion to one of the valleys of the second ring.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first ring is formed from a first continuous wire. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the second ring is formed from a second continuous wire. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said deforming comprises work hardening the portion. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the Vicker hardness value of the deformed portion of the peak increases by at least about 20% during said work hardening. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the Vicker hardness value of the deformed portion of the peak increases by about 20% to about 40% during said work hardening 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising deforming a portion of at least one of the valleys of the second ring, and wherein said connecting comprises connecting the deformed portion of the at least one peak of the first ring to the deformed portion of the at least one valley of the second ring. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein said deforming the portion of the at least one valley of the second ring comprises work hardening the portion of the at least one valley. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the Vicker hardness value of the deformed portion of the valley of the second ring increases by at least about 20% during said work hardening. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the Vicker hardness value of the deformed portion of the valley of the second ring increases by about 20% to about 40% during said work hardening. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the deformed portion of the peak of the first ring and the deformed portion of the valley of the second ring contact each other during said connecting so as to space apart non-deformed portions of the peak and non-deformed portions of the valley. 
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said deforming comprises pressing a tool against the portion. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the tool comprises a punch. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the tool comprises a roller. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said connecting comprises welding. 
   
   
       16 . A method for manufacturing a stent, the method comprising:
 forming a first ring having a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys;   forming a second ring having a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys;   connecting one of the peaks of the first ring to one of the valleys of the second ring; and   deforming a portion of the connected peak of the first ring.   
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising deforming a portion of the connected valley of the second ring. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said deforming the portion of the connected valley of the second ring comprises work hardening. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the Vicker hardness value of the deformed portion of the valley of the second ring increases by at least about 20% during said work hardening. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the Vicker hardness value of the deformed portion of the valley of the second ring increases by about 20% to about 40% during said work hardening. 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said deforming comprises work hardening. 
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the Vicker hardness value of the deformed portion of the peak increases by at least about 20% during said work hardening. 
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the Vicker hardness value of the deformed portion of the peak increases by about 20% to about 40% during said work hardening. 
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said deforming comprises pressing a tool against the portion. 
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the tool comprises a punch. 
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the tool comprises a roller. 
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said connecting comprises welding. 
   
   
       28 . A stent comprising:
 a first ring having a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys;   a second ring having a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys; and   a connector connecting one of the peaks of the first ring to one of the valleys of the second ring, the connected peak of the first ring comprising a deformed portion that extends towards the connected valley of the second ring.   
   
   
       29 . The stent according to  claim 28 , wherein the deformed portion of the peak has a Vickers hardness value that is at least about 20% greater than the Vickers hardness value of non-deformed portions of the peak. 
   
   
       30 . The stent according to  claim 29 , wherein the deformed portion of the peak has a Vickers hardness value that is about 20% to about 40% greater than the Vickers hardness value of non-deformed portions of the peak. 
   
   
       31 . The stent according to  claim 28 , wherein the connected valley of the second ring comprises a deformed portion that extends towards the connected peak of the first ring. 
   
   
       32 . The stent according to  claim 31 , wherein the deformed portion of the valley of the second ring has a Vickers hardness value that is at least about 20% greater than the Vickers hardness value of non-deformed portions of the valley of the second ring. 
   
   
       33 . The stent according to  claim 32 , wherein the deformed portion of the valley of the second ring has a Vickers hardness value that is about 20% to about 40% greater than the Vickers hardness value of non-deformed portions of the valley of the second ring. 
   
   
       34 . The stent according to  claim 31 , wherein the deformed portion of the peak of the first ring and the deformed portion of the valley of the second ring contact each other so as to space apart the non-deformed portions of the peak and the non-deformed portions of the valley. 
   
   
       35 . The stent according to  claim 31 , wherein the connector comprises a weld that contacts the deformed portion of the peak of the first ring and the deformed portion of the valley of the second ring. 
   
   
       36 . The stent according to  claim 35 , wherein the connector comprises a weld that contacts the deformed portion. 
   
   
       37 . The stent according to  claim 28 , wherein the first ring is formed from a first continuous wire. 
   
   
       38 . The stent according to  claim 37 , wherein the second ring is formed from a second continuous wire.

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