Processes for making crush recoverable polymer scaffolds

摘要

Methods for making scaffolds for delivery via a balloon catheter are described. The scaffold, after being deployed by the balloon, provides a crush recovery of about 90% after the diameter of the scaffold has been pinched or crushed by 50%. The scaffold structure has patterns that include an asymmetric or symmetric closed cell, and links connecting such closed cells.

主权项

1. A method for making a medical device, comprising:
forming a scaffold from a tube made from a polymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg); crimping the scaffold to a balloon at a crimping temperature between about 1 to 20 degrees less than Tg, wherein the scaffold is plastically deformed to have a crimped state; and fitting a removable sheath over the scaffold and balloon following crimping to limit recoil of the crimped scaffold; wherein the scaffold has an expanded diameter when plastically deformed from the crimped state by the balloon; and wherein the scaffold attains greater than 90% of the expanded diameter after being crushed by an amount equal to at least 33% of the expanded diameter.