Primarily niobium stent

US7101391B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Inflow Dynamics, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Torsten Scheuermann · Munich, DE
• Eckhard Alt · Ottobrunn, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 31, 2002
• Grant date: Sep 5, 2006
• Expiry date: Jul 23, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61F2310/00598
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In a process of fabricating a stent composed primarily of niobium alloyed with a trace amount of zirconium, tantalum, or titanium for hardening, the stent is annealed under vacuum in a substantially oxygen-free environment. The vacuum is preferably maintained at pressure less than 10−4 millibars, oxygen-content less than about 80 parts per million, and the annealing temperature exceeds 400° C. for at least one hour, and is preferably kept in a range from about 1100–1200° C. for several hours. This may be followed by applying a surface layer of oxide, such as iridium oxide, with a thickness of 299–300 nm to the stent.