US6872226B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of cutting material for use in implantable medical device
Assignee: Medtronic 3F Therapeutics Inc
•
Filing: 2002-07-26
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Granted: 2005-03-29
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Expires: 2022-07-26
Abstract
Abstract A method of cutting material for use in an implantable medical device employs a plotted laser cutting system. The laser cutting system is computer controlled and includes a laser combined with a motion system. The laser precisely cuts segments out of source material according to a predetermined pattern as designated by the computer. The segments are used in constructing implantable medical devices. The cutting energy of the laser is selected so that the cut edges of the segments are melted to discourage delamination or fraying, but communication of thermal energy into the segment beyond the edge is minimized to avoid damaging the segment adjacent the edge.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas S. Cali
- 👤 Keith E. Myers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 03:32
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/20; B23K26/32; B23K26/324; A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2412; A61F2/2415; B23K26/36; B23K26/40; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0025; A61F2220/0075; B23K2103/00; B23K2103/16; B23K2103/30; B23K2103/38; B23K2103/42; B23K2103/50; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1052; Y10T156/1054
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of creating an implantable medical prosthesis, comprising: providing a sheet of pericardium, wherein the pericardium has at least two tissue layers; cutting a segment of tissue out of the sheet of pericardium with a laser beam; said cutting comprising operating a laser at a power and pulse rate such that said beam welds the layers of the pericardium together along a laser cut edge; wherein the laser is operated in a pulsed manner, supplying between about 0.005-0.5 joules of laser energy per pulse, with a laser spot size of about 0.002-0.005 inches in diameter, thereby producing a laser cut edge without significantly burning the pericardium adjacent the cut edge.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of creating an implantable medical prosthesis, comprising: providing a sheet of pericardium, wherein the pericardium has at least two tissue layers; cutting a segment of tissue out of the sheet of pericardium with a laser beam; said cutting comprising operating a laser at a power and pulse rate such that said beam welds the layers of the pericardium together along a laser cut edge; wherein the laser is operated in a pulsed manner, supplying between about 0.005-0.5 joules of laser energy per pulse, with a laser spot size of about 0.002-0.005 inches in diameter, thereby producing a laser cut edge without significantly burning the pericardium adjacent the cut edge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the pericardium tissue comprises equine pericardium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser beam power and pulse rate are selected so that there is substantially no discoloration of the pericardium along the cut edge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the prosthesis comprises a heart valve, said cutting comprising cutting a plurality of segments of tissue out of the sheet of pericardium with the laser beam and attaching the cut segments to one another to form the valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , comprising moving the laser beam at a cutting speed of about 1 inch per second and a pulse rate of about 1000 pulses per inch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the laser beam supplies between about 0.005-0.02 joules of laser energy per pulse.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser beam operates at a wavelength of about 10.6 microns.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser beam operates at a wavelength of about 2.7-3.0 microns.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser energy is about 0.0075 joules per pulse and a laser spot diameter of about 0.003 inches.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-03-28 | 2008-09-27 | 2009-03-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-03-28 | 2012-09-27 | 2013-03-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-03-28 | 2016-09-27 | 2017-03-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |