US20090292352A1 - Methods of making medical devices - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of making a stent includes providing a tubular member having a first layer, the first layer and the tubular member having different compositions, removing a portion of the tubular member, and removing a portion of the first layer from the tubular member.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application is a continuation or application of and claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 10/185,837, filed on Jun. 27, 2002.
TECHNICAL FIELD
• The invention relates to methods of making medical devices, such as, for example, endoprosthesis.
BACKGROUND
• The body includes various passageways such as arteries, other blood vessels, and other body lumens. These passageways sometimes become occluded or weakened. For example, the passageways can be occluded by a tumor, restricted by plaque, or weakened by an aneurysm. When this occurs, the passageway can be reopened or reinforced, or even replaced, with a medical endoprosthesis. An endoprosthesis is typically a tubular member that is placed in a lumen in the body. Examples of endoprosthesis include stents and covered stents, sometimes called “stent-grafts”.
• An endoprosthesis can be delivered inside the body by a catheter that supports the endoprosthesis in a compacted or reduced-size form as the endoprosthesis is transported to a desired site. Upon reaching the site, the endoprosthesis is expanded, for example, so that it can contact the walls of the lumen.
• The expansion mechanism may include forcing the endoprosthesis to expand radially. For example, the expansion mechanism can include the catheter carrying a balloon, which carries the endoprosthesis. The balloon can be inflated to deform and to fix the expanded endoprosthesis at a predetermined position in contact with the lumen wall. The balloon can then be deflated, and the catheter removed.
• In another delivery technique, the endoprosthesis is formed of an elastic material that can be reversibly compacted and expanded. During introduction into the body, the endoprosthesis is restrained in a compacted condition. Upon reaching the desired implantation site, the restraint is removed, for example, by retracting a restraining device such as an outer sheath, enabling the endoprosthesis to self-expand by its own internal elastic restoring force.
• One method of making a stent includes laser cutting a tube of stent material to define the structure of the stent. Laser cutting, however, can form recast material, which is material from the tube that has melted, oxidized, and solidified on laser-cut surfaces. The recast material can make a stent more susceptible to failure (e.g., cracking or fracture) during manufacturing or in use. Accordingly, sometimes, the recast material is removed, e.g., by chemical milling and/or electropolishing, after laser cutting. To compensate for loss of material during the removal step(s), the metal tube can be made oversized, which can be wasteful and costly, particularly if the tube includes precious metals. The removal step(s) may also include using potent and/or hazardous chemicals.
SUMMARY
• The invention relates to methods of making medical devices, such as, for example, endoprostheses.
• The invention features a method of manufacturing an endoprosthesis, such as a stent, that includes using sacrificial material that covers one or more portions of a tube of stent material. During manufacturing, particularly during removal of recast material, the sacrificial material protects the stent material from material loss. As a result, although the tube of stent material can be formed oversized, the tube does not need to be formed oversized, thereby reducing the amount of stent material used. When the stent material includes precious materials, such as gold or platinum, reducing the amount of stent material reduces cost. The sacrificial material may also be capable of reacting with the stent material to form a product, such as an alloy, that is relatively easy to remove, e.g., compared to the pure stent material. As a result, less hazardous chemicals may be used during recast material removal.
• In one aspect, the invention features a method of making a stent. The method includes providing a tubular member having a first layer, the first layer and the tubular member having different compositions, removing a portion of the tubular member, and removing a portion of the first layer from the tubular member.
• In another aspect, the invention features a method of making a stent having struts including providing a tubular member having a first layer, the first layer and the tubular member having different compositions, removing a portion of the tubular member to form the struts and a portion of the first layer, and removing a portion of the first layer from the tubular member to provide the stent.
• In another aspect, the invention features a method of making a stent including providing a member having a first layer, the first layer and the member having different compositions, removing a portion of the member to define an opening through the member, removing the first layer from the member, and forming the member into the stent. The member may have opposing edges, and the stent may be formed by connecting the edges. The stent can be formed by forming the member into a tube. The member can be tubular.
• Embodiments of the aspects of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The tubular member and the first layer include metals. The method further includes finishing the tubular member into the stent, e.g., by electropolishing. A portion of the first layer is removed with the portion of the tubular member. The entire first layer is removed from the tubular member. An entire surface portion of the first layer is removed from the tubular member.
• The first layer can be directly on the tubular member. The first layer can be on only a portion of the tubular member or on substantially an entire surface of the tubular member. The first layer can be on an inner surface and/or on an outer surface of the tubular member.
• In some embodiments, the tubular member has a second layer, and the first and second layers are on opposing surfaces of the tubular member. The method may include removing a portion of the tubular member and the first and second layers, and removing the first and second layers from the tubular member.
• The tubular member can be provided by co-drawing a first member that forms the tubular member and a second member that forms the first layer on an inner surface of the tubular member. The tubular member can be provided by co-drawing a first member that forms the tubular member and a second member that forms the first layer on an outer surface of the tubular member.
• The method can include forming the first layer on the tubular member. The first layer may include a metal and may be formed by a process selected from a group consisting of electrodeposition and vapor deposition of the metal.
• The stent may include struts, and the removing of the portion of the tubular member may include forming the struts.
• The portion of the tubular member may be removed by a laser, by dissolving the first layer, by melting the first layer, and/or by mechanically removing the first layer.
• The tubular member may include a material selected from a group consisting of platinum, gold, palladium, rhenium, tantalum, tungsten, molybdenum, rhenium, nickel, cobalt, stainless steel, Nitinol, and alloys thereof. The first layer may include a material selected from a group consisting of steel, cadmium, lead, magnesium, tin, zinc, titanium, stainless steel, and aluminum.
• The method may include forming a drug-releasing layer on the stent.
• In another aspect, the invention features a stent, made according to the methods described herein.
• Other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description of the preferred embodiments thereof and from the claims.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a method of making a stent; and
• FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a method of making a stent.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• Referring toFIG. 1, amethod10 of making astent12 is shown.Method10 generally includes providing atubular member14 that ultimately becomesstent12, and forming aninner layer16 and anouter layer18 on the tubular member.Tubular member14 is made of a stent material, e.g., platinum, and layers16 and18 can be made of, e.g., carbon steel. Portions oftubular member14 and layers16 and18 are then removed, e.g., by laser cutting, to formopenings20 and struts22 ofstent12. Subsequently, layers16 and18 are removed fromtubular member14 to yieldstent12.
• Layers16 and18 serve as sacrificial layers that are ultimately removed at the end ofmethod10. Here, rather than starting with an oversized tubular member to compensate for loss of material that may occur during removal of recast material, a relatively smallertubular member14 can be used withlayers16 and18. For example,tubular member14 and layers16 and18 can have a total dimension similar to that of an oversized tubular member. During removal of recast material, layers16 and18 are sacrificed, reducing the amount oftubular member14 that is affected by recast material removal. In embodiments in whichtubular member14 includes precious metals, such as platinum, usinglayers16 and18 can reduce cost and waste. In other embodiments, an oversized tubular member can be used.
• Furthermore, without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that during laser cutting, portions oflayers16 and18 can pave cut surfaces oftubular member14 and/or react with the tubular member, e.g., at the cut surfaces to form products such as alloys. Some reaction products can be more easily removed, e.g., by chemical etching, than a pure stent material, such as an acid-resistant precious metal. As a result, in some embodiments, less hazardous materials may be used in the post-laser cutting removal step(s). Some reaction products may also protect the cut surfaces by making the surfaces less susceptible to oxidation.
• Moreover, sincetubular member14 can be relatively small, smaller ingots can be used to form the tubular member. Smaller ingots can be formed with relatively high yield rates, i.e., low waste, and relatively high quality control. Also, during manufacturing, layers16 and18 can protecttubular member14, e.g., by lowering the oxidation of the tubular member by the environment and/or by reducing contamination of the tubular member, e.g., from machining equipment. Consequently, manufacturing steps, such as annealing to enhance the physical properties totubular member14, e.g., ductility, may be performed without certain handling equipment, such as vacuum or inert gas annealing chambers, which can further reduce cost and inconvenience.
• Tubular member14 can be made of any material that can be used in a stent. The material is preferably biocompatible. Examples of stent materials include noble metals, such as platinum, gold, and palladium, refractory metals, such as tantalum, tungsten, molybdenum and rhenium, and alloys thereof. Other examples of stent materials include stainless steels, stainless steels alloyed with noble and/or refractory metals, nickel-based alloys (e.g., those that contained Pt, Au, and/or Ta), iron-based alloys (e.g., those that contained Pt, Au, and/or Ta), cobalt-based alloys (e.g., those that contained Pt, Au, and/or Ta), and Nitinol.Tubular member14 can be made, for example, by extrusion and drawing, or by boring a solid billet of stent material. As an example,tubular member14 can be made from a casted two-inch diameter ingot that is rough machined, rolled, forged, and/or extruded to a 1.5-inch diameter by six-inch long billet. A one-inch diameter bore can be formed in the billet by upset forging and/or electrical discharge machining (EDM). As described below,tubular member14 can have dimensions that are near final stent size or greater.
• Tubular member14 can be annealed after it is formed. In general, annealing can be performed after any step (such as forging, extrusion, or drawing) that has reduced the formability (e.g., ductility) oftubular member14. Annealingtubular member14 can increase the formability of the tubular member to a level sufficient for further processing (e.g., without the tubular member cracking or fracturing).
• Layers16 and18 can include any material that can be formed ontubular member14 and subsequently removed. Examples of materials forlayers16 and18 are those that are relatively convenient to handle, relatively convenient to form ontubular member14, relatively easy to remove, e.g., chemically, and/or relatively inexpensive. Preferably, the materials forlayers16 and18 can react with the stent material to form a product that is convenient or easy to remove.Layers16 and18 can have similar melting points as that oftubular member14 or higher, e.g., so that the layers can be annealed with the tubular member, i.e., the layers do not melt or degrade during heating. In some embodiments, materials forlayers16 and18 have relatively low melting points, e.g., so that the layers can be removed by heating. Examples of materials forlayers16 and18 include metallic materials, such as carbon steel, cadmium, lead, magnesium, tin, zinc, titanium, stainless steel (e.g., 304L or 316L stainless steel), and aluminum. The thickness of eachlayer16 or18 can be about 0.25-2 times, e.g., 0.5-1 time, the wall thickness oftubular member14.Layers16 and18 can have the same or different compositions.
• Numerous methods can be used to formlayers16 and18 ontubular member14. For example, atubular member14 that is larger than final stent size can be sandwiched betweenlayers16 and18 by placing a tight fitting tube (e.g., a steel tube) around the tubular member, and another tight fitting tube (e.g., a hollow or solid die or a mandrel) in the tubular member.
• Tubular member14 and the sandwiching tubes can then be co-drawn, e.g., until the tubular member is near final stent size. As an example, a 1.5-inch diameter tubular member having a one-inch diameter bore can be placed into an outer steel tube having a 1.5193-inch O.D. and a 1.5-inch I.D. An inner steel tube having a one-inch O.D. and a 0.9745-inch I.D. can be placed in the tubular member. The tubular member and sandwiching steel tubes can be drawn until the O.D. and the I.D. of the tubular member are reduced to about 0.07 and 0.06 inch, respectively. A 0.0002-inch thick steel layer can be on each surface of the tubular member after drawing.
• In other embodiments,tubular member14 can be formed, e.g., drawn, to near final stent size, and layers16 and18 are subsequently formed on the tubular member. Methods of forminglayers16 and18 include, for example, electrodeposition, spraying, e.g., plasma spraying, dipping in molten material, e.g., galvanizing, chemical vapor deposition, and physical vapor deposition.
• Afterlayers16 and18 are formed ontubular member14, portions of the layers and tubular member are removed to form the structure (e.g.,openings20 and struts22) ofstent12. The portions can be removed by laser cutting, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,780,807, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In certain embodiments, during laser cutting, a liquid carrier, such as a solvent or an oil, is flowed through tubular member14 (arrow A). The carrier can prevent dross formed on one portion oftubular member14 from re-depositing on another portion, and/or reduce formation of recast material on the tubular member. Other methods of removing portions oftubular member14 and layers16 and18 can be used, such as mechanical machining (e.g., micro-machining), electrical discharge machining (EDM), and photoetching (e.g., acid photoetching).
• After the structure ofstent12 is formed, layers16 and18 are removed to yieldstent12.Layers16 and18 can be dissolved, e.g., by immersion in an acid such as nitric acid, which can also remove certain recast material formed on tubular member14 (now formed into stent12). Alternatively or in addition, layers16 and18 can be mechanically removed, e.g., by grinding, melting, e.g., for layers having sufficiently low melting points, and/or subliming.
• Stent12 can then be finished, e.g., electropolished to a smooth finish, according to conventional methods. As an example, about 0.0001 inch of the stent material can be removed from each surface by chemical milling and electropolishing to yield a stent having a 0.0695-inch O.D. and a 0.0605-inch I.D.Stent12 can then be annealed.
• Stent12 can be used, e.g., delivered and expanded, according to conventional methods.
• Generally,stent12 can be a conventional stent, e.g., balloon expandable, self-expandable, or a combination of both.Stent12 can also be a part of a stent-graft. The stent-graft can be a stent attached to a biocompatible, non-porous or semi-porous polymer matrix made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), expanded PTFE, polyethylene, urethane, or polypropylene.Stent12 can include a releasable therapeutic agent or a pharmaceutically active compound, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,242, and commonly-assigned U.S. Ser. No. 09/895,415, filed Jul. 2, 2001, all hereby incorporated by reference. The therapeutic agents or pharmaceutically active compounds can include, for example, anti-thrombogenic agents, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, anesthetic agents, anti-coagulants, and antibiotics. Examples ofstent12 are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,725,570 and 5,234,457, all hereby incorporated by reference.
Other Embodiments
• In other embodiments, a non-tubular member can be initially used to form a stent.
• Referring toFIG. 2, amethod100 of forming astent112 begins with using a non-tubular member114 (here, a sheet).Member114 can be similar in composition totubular member14 described above.Member114 can be formed, for example, by forging, rolling, and/or extrusion. Next,sacrificial layers116 and118, which are similar tolayers16 and18, are formed onmember114, as generally described above. Portions ofmember114 andlayers116 and118 are then removed, e.g., by laser cutting, to form openings120 and struts112 ofstent112.Layers116 and118 are then removed, e.g., by chemical etching, to leavemember114.Member114 can be formed intostent112 by connecting opposingedges124 and126, e.g., by welding.Stent112 can be finished as described above. In some embodiments, opposing edges ofmember114 andlayers116 and118 can be connected together to form a tube prior to laser cutting.
• As an example, a casted and rough machined two-inch diameter by six inch long ingot of stent material can be upset forged and extruded down to a bar about one inch thick by one inch wide by 18.85 inch long for plate and strip rolling. The bar can be placed within a tight fitting steel container with a wall thickness of 0.0435 inch. The steel-covered bar can be subjected to plate and strip rolling operations until the thickness of the stent material is 0.0046 inch and the total sandwich thickness is 0.0050 inch. A 0.0002-inch thick steel layer may be on each surface of the stent material. A stent tubing can be formed by rolling and laser welding of the steel-sandwiched stent material. The welded tubing can be laser machined to form the structure of the stent, and the machined stent can be immersed in a nitric acid solution to dissolve the steel from the surfaces of the stent and the recast material on the cut surfaces. The stent can then be electropolished to a smooth surface finish, with 0.00005 inch of stent material removed from each surface from chemical milling and electropolishing.
• In some embodiments, one or more ofsacrificial layers16,18,116, or118 cover selected portions ofmember14 or114. For example, the sacrificial layers may cover only portions ofmember14 or114 that become the struts of the stent, i.e., portions of themember14 or114 that are removed to form the openings of the stent are not covered by the sacrificial layers. Selective coverage ofmembers14 or114 can be performed, e.g., by masking techniques.
• In certain embodiments, layers16,18,116, or118 are formed on the stent material ingot to protect the stent material during billet or tube forming. The melting points oflayers16,18,116, or118 may be about 50% of the melting point of stent material or more.
• In other embodiments, only one layer (e.g.,layer16,18,116, or118) is formed on the member (e.g.,member14 or114) that ultimately becomes the stent. As an example, a two-inch diameter ingot of stent material can be rough machined, rolled, forged, and/or extruded down to a 1.5-inch diameter by six-inch long billet. A one-inch diameter hole can be made in the billet by upset forging or electrical discharge machining. The billet can be placed inside a tight fitting steel tube with a 1.5-inch diameter I.D. and a wall thickness of 0.0045 inch. The steel covered billet can be subjected to tube drawing operations until the O.D. and I.D. are 0.0700 inch and 0.0602 inch, respectively. A 0.0001-inch thick steel layer may remain on the outer surface of the stent material tubing. Laser cutting of the stent struts can be performed. The machined tube can be immersed in a nitric acid solution to dissolve the steel from the outer surface of the tube and the steel recast material on the cut surfaces. The stent can then be chemical milled and electropolished to a smooth surface finish (e.g., 0.0003 inch of stent material removed from each surface). The finished stent dimensions can be 0.0695 inch O.D. and 0.0605 inch I.D.
• In some embodiments, layers16,18,116 and/or118 are not completely removed fromtubular member14 ormember114 because, for example, the layer(s) can enhance the function or performance of the stent. For example, a thin film of titanium or 316L stainless steel may remain onmember14 or114 to enhance biocompatibility of a gold ortungsten member14 or114. An entire surface portion oflayers16,18,116 and/or118 can be removed, leaving the layers reduced in thickness but still remaining onmember14 or114.
• More than one sacrificial layer can be formed on each side ofmember14 or114. A sacrificial layer may be in direct contact withmember14 or114, or there may be intermediate layers between the sacrificial layer andmember14 or114.
• Other embodiments are within the claims.

Claims (26)

1-61. (canceled)

62. A method of making a stent, the method comprising:

providing a member having a first layer, the first layer and the member having different compositions;

removing a portion of the member to define an opening through the member;

removing a portion of the first layer from the member; and

forming the member into the stent.

63. The method ofclaim 62, wherein the member has opposing edges, and the stent is formed by connecting the edges.

64. The method ofclaim 62, wherein the stent is formed by forming the member into a tube.

65. The method ofclaim 62, wherein the member is tubular.

66. The method ofclaim 62, wherein the member and the first layer comprise metals.

67. The method ofclaim 62, further comprising finishing the member into the stent.

68. The method ofclaim 62, wherein the first layer is directly on the member.

69. The method ofclaim 62, wherein the first layer is on only a portion of the member.

70. The method ofclaim 62, wherein the first layer is on substantially an entire surface of the member.

71. The method ofclaim 62, wherein a portion of the first layer is removed with the portion of the member.

72. The method ofclaim 62, wherein the member has a second layer, the first and second layers being on opposing surfaces of the member, and the method comprises removing a portion of the member and the first and second layers, and removing the first and second layers from the member.

73. The method ofclaim 62, further comprising forming the first layer on the member.

74. The method ofclaim 62, wherein the stent comprises struts, and the removing of the portion of the member comprises forming the struts.

75. The method ofclaim 62, wherein the portion of the member is removed by a laser.

76. The method ofclaim 62, wherein the first layer is removed by dissolving the first layer.

77. The method ofclaim 62, wherein the first layer is removed by melting the first layer.

78. The method ofclaim 62, wherein the first layer is removed by mechanically removing the first layer.

79. The method ofclaim 62, wherein the member comprises a material selected from a group consisting of platinum, gold, palladium, rhenium, tantalum, tungsten, molybdenum, rhenium, nickel, cobalt, stainless steel, Nitinol, and alloys thereof.

80. The method ofclaim 62, wherein the member comprises a material selected from a group consisting of platinum, gold, and tantalum.

81. The method ofclaim 62, wherein the first layer comprises a material selected from a group consisting of steel, cadmium, lead, magnesium, tin, zinc, and aluminum.

82. The method ofclaim 62, wherein the first layer comprises a steel.

83. The method ofclaim 62, further comprising forming a drug-releasing layer on the stent.

84. A stent, made according to the method ofclaim 62.

85. The method ofclaim 62, wherein the entire first layer is removed from the member.

86. The method ofclaim 62, wherein an entire surface portion of the first layer is removed from the member.

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