Apparatus and Method for Forming a Wave Form for a Stent From a Wire

Abstract

An apparatus for forming a wave form for a stent from a wire includes a first forming member configured to move substantially parallel to a first axis and to move substantially parallel to a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis, and a second forming member configured to move substantially parallel to the first axis and to move substantially parallel to the second axis. The second forming member is positioned opposite from the first forming member relative to the second axis along which the wire is configured to travel. The apparatus includes a controller configured to control movement of the first forming member relative to the wire and to control movement of the second forming member relative to the wire so that the first forming member and the second forming member deform the wire in opposite directions to form a portion of the wave form.

1 . An apparatus for forming a wave form for a stent from a wire, the apparatus comprising:
 a first forming member configured to move substantially parallel to a first axis and to move substantially parallel to a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis;   a second forming member configured to move substantially parallel to the first axis and to move substantially parallel to the second axis, the second forming member being positioned opposite from the first forming member relative to the second axis along which the wire is configured to travel; and   a controller configured to control movement of the first forming member relative to the wire and to control movement of the second forming member relative to the wire so that the first forming member and the second forming member deform the wire in opposite directions to form a portion of the wave form.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first actuator configured to move the first forming member substantially parallel to the first axis and substantially parallel to the second axis, wherein the first actuator is configured to be controlled by the controller. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second actuator configured to move the second forming member substantially parallel to the first axis and substantially parallel to the second axis, wherein the second actuator is configured to be controlled by the controller. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first forming member comprises a first engaging surface configured to engage the wire when the first forming member is moved in a first direction substantially parallel to the first axis, and wherein the second forming member comprises a second engaging surface configured to engage the wire when the second forming member is moved in a second direction that is substantially opposite to the first direction. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the first engaging surface and the second engaging surface have substantially the same configuration. 
     
     
         6 . A method for forming a wave form for a stent from a wire, the method comprising:
 deforming the wire by moving a first forming member in a first direction substantially perpendicular to a wire axis defined by the wire prior to being deformed;   deforming the wire by moving a second forming member located on a first side of the first forming member in a second direction that is substantially opposite to the first direction;   moving the first forming member away from the wire;   moving the first forming member in a third direction substantially parallel to the wire axis to a position on an opposite side of the second forming member; and   deforming the wire by moving the first forming member in the first direction.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 moving the second forming member in the first direction away from the wire;   moving the second forming member in the third direction to a position on an opposite side of the first forming member so that the first side of the first forming member faces the second forming member; and   deforming the wire by moving the second forming member in the second direction.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 moving the first forming member and the second forming member away from the wire; and   advancing the wire in the third direction.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the first forming member and the second forming member deform the wire substantially the same amount. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the wire has a diameter in a range between about 0.0025″ and about 0.0050″. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for forming a wave form for a stent from a wire, the apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of first forming members spaced apart from one another along a wire axis, each first forming member being configured to move substantially parallel to the wire axis and to move substantially parallel to a second axis that is orthogonal to the wire axis;   a plurality of second forming members spaced apart from one another along the wire axis so that at least one of the second forming members is in between two of the first forming members along the wire axis, each second forming member being configured to move substantially parallel to the wire axis and to move substantially parallel to the second axis; and   a controller configured to control movement of the first forming members and movement of the second forming members so that the first forming members and the second forming members deform the wire in opposite directions to form a portion of the wave form.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of first actuators, each of which being configured to move a respective first forming member substantially parallel to the wire axis and substantially parallel to the second axis, wherein the first actuators are configured to be controlled by the controller. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of second actuators, each of which being configured to move a respective second forming member substantially parallel to the wire axis and substantially parallel to the second axis, wherein the second actuators are configured to be controlled by the controller. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first forming members comprises a first engaging surface configured to engage the wire when the first forming member is moved in a first direction substantially parallel to the second axis, and wherein each of the second forming members comprises a second engaging surface configured to engage the wire when the second forming member is moved in a second direction that is substantially opposite to the first direction. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the first engaging surfaces and the second engaging surfaces have substantially the same configuration. 
     
     
         16 . A method for forming a stent from a wire, the method comprising:
 deforming the wire with a plurality of first forming members by moving the first forming members in a first direction;   deforming the wire with a plurality of second forming members by moving the second forming members in a second direction that is substantially opposite the first direction;   moving the first forming members and the second forming members in a third direction that is substantially orthogonal to the first and second directions;   moving the first forming members away from the wire in the second direction;   moving the second forming members away from the wire in the first direction; and   advancing the wire in the third direction.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said deforming the wire with the plurality of first forming members and said deforming the wire with the plurality of second forming members occurs at substantially the same time. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the first forming members and the second forming members deform the wire substantially the same amount. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the wire has a diameter in a range between about 0.0025″ and about 0.0050″.