THERMAL PROCESSING OF POLYMER SCAFFOLDS

摘要

Methods are disclosed including thermally processing a scaffold to increase the radial strength of the scaffold when the scaffold is deployed from a crimped state to a deployed state such as a nominal deployment diameter. The thermal processing may further maintain or increase the expansion capability of the scaffold when expanded beyond the nominal diameter.

主权项

1. A method of fabricating a polymer stent comprising:
providing a biodegradable polymer scaffold comprising a polymer, the scaffold having an expanded configuration and a crimped configuration for delivery in a vascular lumen; thermally treating the scaffold to reverse physical aging of the scaffold; and crimping the scaffold to the crimped configuration having reversed physical aging or shortly after thermally treating.