EP0679372B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Radiopaque stent markers
Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1995-04-24
•
Granted: 1999-07-28
•
Expires: 2015-04-24
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Sharon S. Lam
- 👤 John J. Frantzen
- 👤 Farhad Khosravi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 02:27
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/82; A61F2/86; A61F2/90; A61F2/91; A61F2/915; A61B; A61B90/00; A61B90/39; A61F2002/91508; A61F2002/91516; A61F2002/91533; A61F2002/9155; A61F2002/91558; A61F2002/91575; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0004; A61F2230/0013; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0058; A61F2250/0096; A61F2250/0098
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
An expandable stent (12) for implantation in a
blood vessel or artery having a generally cylindrical
configuration and comprising a radiopaque material
(10) affixed to said stent (12) so that said
radiopaque material (10) is visible under fluoroscopy
and can be easily located in the blood vessel or
artery where said stent (12) is being implanted,
characterised in that said stent (12) further
comprises a deforming portion (20) and a non-deforming
portion (18), and said radiopaque material (10) is
affixed only to at least a part of said non-deforming
portion (18).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
38 words
The expandable stent (12) of claim 1, wherein
said stent (12) has a proximal end (14) and a distal
end (16) and said radiopaque material (10) is affixed
adjacent said proximal end (14) and said distal end
(16).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The expandable stent (12) of claim 1 or claim 2,
wherein said radiopaque material (10) comprises a
metal taken from the group of metals consisting of
gold, platinum and silver.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The expandable stent (12) of any preceding
claim, wherein said radiopaque material (10) has a
thickness in the range of approximately 0.008 to
0.080mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The expandable stent (12) of any preceding claim,
wherein said radiopaque material (10) extends a full
circumference of a part of said stent (12).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The expandable stent (12) of any preceding claim,
wherein said radiopaque material (10) comprises a
pattern (13).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The expandable stent (12) of claim 6, wherein
said pattern (13) of said radiopaque material (10) is
selected from the list comprising a wave-like shape, a
continuous line and a dashed line, the continuous or
dashed line extending from said proximal end (14) to said
distal end (16) of the stent (12).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The expandable stent (12) of any preceding claim,
wherein said radiopaque material (10) is affixable to
said stent (12) by plating radiopaque material (10)
onto the stent (12).
Claim 9
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of affixing a radiopaque material (10)
to an expandable stent (12) having a generally
cylindrical configuration comprising a deforming
portion (20) and a non-deforming portion (18), the
method comprising the steps of: placing the stent (12) upon a mandrel (30); attaching masking material (32) at least to the deforming portion
of the stent (12) so that at least a part of said
non-deforming portion (18) remains exposed; coating at least part of said exposed non-deforming
portion (18) with a radiopaque material
(10); removing the masking material (32) from the stent
(12); and removing the stent (12) from the mandrel (30).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the step of
attaching masking material (32) comprises: attaching masking material (32) to said deforming
portion (20) and said non-deforming portion (18); and removing part of said masking material (32) so
that at least a part of said non-deforming portion
(18) is exposed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 9 or claim 10, wherein said
masking material (32) is a heat-shrinkable tubing and
the step of attaching masking material (32) comprises
heating the heat-shrinkable tubing so as to attach the
heat-shrinkable tubing to the stent (12).
Claim 12
Independent Claim
28 words
The method of any of claims 9 to 11, wherein said
coating step includes plating a coating of metal
selected from the list comprising gold, platinum and
silver.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
18 words
The method of any of claims 9 to 12, wherein said
coating step includes coating a radiopaque plastic.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
41 words
The method of any of claims 9 to 13, wherein said
coating step includes dipping said stent (12) in a
solution of radiopaque plastic so that at least part
of said exposed non-deforming portion (18) receives
said coating of radiopaque plastic.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
29 words
The method of any of claims 9 to 14, wherein said
coating step includes solvent casting a radiopaque
plastic on at least part of said exposed non-deforming
portion (18).
Claim 16
Independent Claim
30 words
The method of any of claims 9 to 15, wherein said
coating step includes vacuum deposition of a
radiopaque plastic on at least part of said exposed
non-deforming portion (18).
Claim 17
Independent Claim
19 words
The method of any of claims 9 to 16, wherein said
masking material (32) is pre-fabricated to pre-determined
dimensions.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
25 words
The method of any of claims 9 to 17, wherein said
masking material (32) is cut to desired dimensions
once placed upon said stent (12).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said masking
material (32) is cut to desired dimensions by use of a
laser.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
34 words
The method of any of claims 9 to 19, wherein said
masking material (32) is removed from the stent (12)
by using a laser to cut said masking material (32)
from said stent (12).
Claim 21
Independent Claim
28 words
The method of any of claims 9 to 20, wherein said
masking material (32) is removed from the stent (12)
by dissolving said masking material (32) with
chemicals.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of affixing a radiopaque material (10)
to an expandable stent (12) having a generally
cylindrical configuration comprising a deforming
portion (20) and a non-deforming portion (18), the
method comprising the steps of: placing the stent (12) upon a mandrel (30); plating said deforming portion (20) and said non-deforming
portion (18) with a radiopaque material
(10); attaching masking material (32) only to
at least a part of said
plated non-deforming portion (18); etching the radiopaque material (10) away from
exposed areas of the stent (12); removing the masking material (32) from the stent
(12); and removing the stent (12) from the mandrel (30).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 22, wherein said plating step
includes depositing a coating of metal selected from
the list comprising gold, platinum and silver.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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