Tubular Metal Prosthesis and Method of Making It

Abstract

For welding a polished component of one metal to a polished prosthesis of another metal, ramp surfaces are used, to compensate for loss of precise dimensions of the two components at the surfaces that face each other at the weld interface, during the respective polishing procedures for the two metals.

1 . A tubular metal stent, comprising:
 a stent body formed from a first material including:
 a first stent ring including struts connected by nodes positioned at a first end of the stent body, 
 a plurality of shanks extending axially away from nodes on the first stent ring along a longitudinal axis of the stent body, 
 each of the plurality of shanks having a head portion, 
 each head portion including first and second polished ramp surfaces converging and meeting at a point axially away from the stent body; and 
   a plurality of radiopaque markers formed from a second material different from the first material, each of the markers including an end recess having complementary polished third and fourth ramp surfaces that abut the polished first and second ramp surfaces when the head portion is inserted into the end recess.   
     
     
         2 . The stent according to  claim 1  wherein the end recess of each of the radiopaque markers includes axially aligned edges parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent body adjacent the polished third and fourth ramp surfaces. 
     
     
         3 . The stent according to  claim 2  further comprising a second stent ring including struts connected by nodes positioned at a second end of the stent body opposite the first end of the stent body. 
     
     
         4 . The stent according to  claim 3  further comprising a plurality of shanks extending axially away from nodes on the second stent ring along a longitudinal axis of the stent body, each of the plurality of shanks having a head portion. 
     
     
         5 . The stent according to  claim 4  wherein each head portion includes first and second polished ramp surfaces converging and meeting at a point axially away from the stent body. 
     
     
         6 . The stent according to  claim 1  wherein the head portion polished first and second ramp surfaces and end recess complementary polished third and fourth ramp surfaces have an arcuate shape. 
     
     
         7 . The stent according to  claim 6  further comprising a second stent ring including struts connected by nodes positioned at a second end of the stent body opposite the first end of the stent body. 
     
     
         8 . The stent according to  claim 7  further comprising a plurality of shanks extending axially away from nodes on the second stent ring along a longitudinal axis of the stent body, each of the plurality of shanks having a head portion. 
     
     
         9 . The stent according to  claim 8  wherein each head portion includes first and second polished ramp surfaces converging and meeting at a point axially away from the stent body. 
     
     
         10 . A tubular metal stent, comprising:
 a stent body formed from a first material including:
 a first stent ring including struts connected by nodes positioned at a first end of the stent body, 
 a plurality of shanks extending axially away from nodes on the first stent ring along a longitudinal axis of the stent body, 
 each of the plurality of shanks having a head portion, 
 each head portion including first and second polished ramp surfaces converging and meeting at a point axially away from the stent body; and 
 a plurality of radiopaque markers formed from a second material different from the first material, each of the markers including an end recess having complementary polished third and fourth ramp surfaces that abut the polished first and second ramp surfaces when the head portion is inserted into the end recess 
   wherein the head portion polished first and second ramp surfaces and end recess complementary polished third and fourth ramp surfaces have an arcuate shape   
     
     
         11 . The stent according to  claim 10  further comprising a second stent ring including struts connected by nodes positioned at a second end of the stent body opposite the first end of the stent body. 
     
     
         12 . The stent according to  claim 11  further comprising a plurality of shanks extending axially away from nodes on the second stent ring along a longitudinal axis of the stent body, each of the plurality of shanks having a head portion. 
     
     
         13 . The stent according to  claim 12  wherein each head portion includes first and second polished ramp surfaces converging and meeting at a point axially away from the stent body. 
     
     
         14 . The stent according to  claim 13  wherein each of the radiopaque markers further comprises a cylindrical throughbore at an end of the recess. 
     
     
         15 . A tubular metal stent, comprising:
 a stent body formed from a first material, including:   a first stent ring including struts connected by nodes positioned at a first end of the stent body,   a plurality of shanks extending axially away from nodes on the first stent ring along a longitudinal axis of the stent body,   an arrow-shaped head extending from each of the plurality of shanks,   each arrow-shaped head portion including first and second polished ramp surfaces; and   a plurality of radiopaque markers formed from a second material different from the first material, each of the markers including an end recess having complementary polished third and fourth ramp surfaces that abut the polished first and second ramp surfaces when the head portion is inserted into the end recess.   
     
     
         16 . The stent according to  claim 15  further comprising a second stent ring including struts connected by nodes positioned at a second end of the stent body opposite the first end of the stent body. 
     
     
         17 . The stent according to  claim 16  further comprising a plurality of shanks extending axially away from nodes on the second stent ring along a longitudinal axis of the stent body, each of the plurality of shanks having a head portion. 
     
     
         18 . The stent according to  claim 17  wherein each head portion includes first and second polished ramp surfaces converging and meeting at a point axially away from the stent body. 
     
     
         19 . The stent according to  claim 18  wherein each of the radiopaque markers further comprises a cylindrical throughbore at an end of the recess.