US5591222A — Method of manufacturing a device to dilate ducts …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 123 words

A method for manufacturing a device for dilating ducts in vivo by application of pressure by a balloon-tipped catheter, comprising the steps of: providing a cylindrical stent prepared by forming biodegradable fibers by a procedure selected from the group consisting of knitting or braiding or weaving; thermally setting said stent to a diameter corresponding to a diameter of an inflated balloon of a balloon-tipped catheter, subsequently reducing the diameter of the stent in a compressed fashion to one permitting reception on the balloon of said balloon-tipped catheter when deflated by inserting the stent into a tube whose diameter is smaller than the diameter of the stent, thermally setting said stent at said compressed diameter, and attaching the compressed stent to the balloon-tipped catheter.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 123 words

A method for manufacturing a device for dilating ducts in vivo by application of pressure by a balloon-tipped catheter, comprising the steps of: providing a cylindrical stent prepared by forming biodegradable fibers by a procedure selected from the group consisting of knitting or braiding or weaving; thermally setting said stent to a diameter corresponding to a diameter of an inflated balloon of a balloon-tipped catheter, subsequently reducing the diameter of the stent in a compressed fashion to one permitting reception on the balloon of said balloon-tipped catheter when deflated by inserting the stent into a tube whose diameter is smaller than the diameter of the stent, thermally setting said stent at said compressed diameter, and attaching the compressed stent to the balloon-tipped catheter.

Claim 3

Independent Claim 134 words

A method for making a device for dilating ducts in vivo, comprising the steps of: providing a reduceable and expandable generally tubular stent formed of biodegradable fibers selected from the group consisting of knitted, braided and woven fibers and being of an initial length and an initial diameter, conducting a first thermal setting step by thermally setting said stent to a diameter different than said initial diameter, contracting said stent to reduce its diameter to one less than said initial diameter, and conducting a second thermal setting step by thermally setting said stent of reduced diameter at a temperature lower than that at which said first thermal setting step is conducted, whereby said thermally set reduced diameter stent is expandable from said reduced diameter by the application of a pressure from inside the stent.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 134 words

A method for making a device for dilating ducts in vivo, comprising the steps of: providing a reduceable and expandable generally tubular stent formed of biodegradable fibers selected from the group consisting of knitted, braided and woven fibers and being of an initial length and an initial diameter, conducting a first thermal setting step by thermally setting said stent to a diameter different than said initial diameter, contracting said stent to reduce its diameter to one less than said initial diameter, and conducting a second thermal setting step by thermally setting said stent of reduced diameter at a temperature lower than that at which said first thermal setting step is conducted, whereby said thermally set reduced diameter stent is expandable from said reduced diameter by the application of a pressure from inside the stent.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 2, wherein the first thermal setting step is conducted at a temperature between the glass transition point and the melting point of the biodegradable fibers.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 2, wherein said step of contracting includes inserting said stent into and through a tube having at least a portion with an inner diameter substantially smaller than the initial diameter of the stent.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 4, wherein said step of inserting includes pulling the stent through the tube by a pulling means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 4, wherein said step of inserting includes providing the pulling means as a wire operatively connected to said stent.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 4, wherein said step of contracting includes providing the tube to be made with polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon).

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 4, wherein said step of contracting includes providing the inner diameter of the portion of the tube that is substantially smaller than the initial diameter of the stent to be about 1.0 to 5.0 mm.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 2, further including a step of expanding the stent from the reduced diameter to the initial diameter by applying a pressure inside the stent.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 2, wherein said step of expanding includes providing a catheter having an expandable balloon which is inserted within the stent and inflated so as to apply the pressure inside the stent.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 2, wherein said step of providing a generally tubular stent includes providing the stent with a generally circular cross section.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 2, wherein said step of providing a generally tubular stent having reduceable and expandable biodegradable fibers includes providing a plain stitch fabric stent.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 71 words

The method of claim 2, wherein said step of providing a generally tubular stent having reduceable and expandable biodegradable fibers includes providing biodegradable fibers made of biodegradable polymers selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, polyglactin (a copolymer of lactic acid and glycolic acid), polydioxanon, polyglyconate (a copolymer of trimethylene carbonate and glycolide), a copolymer of polyglycolic acid and ε-caprolactone, and a copolymer of lactic acid and ε-caprolactone.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 2, wherein said biodegradable fibers are provided as knitted.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 2, wherein said biodegradable fibers are provided as monofilament having a diameter of about 10 to about 1,000 μm.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 2, wherein an initial inner diameter of the expanded stent is about 3 to about 10 mm.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-01-07	2000-07-08	2001-01-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-01-07	2004-07-08	2005-01-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-01-07	2008-07-08	2009-01-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method of manufacturing a device to dilate ducts in vivo

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