SEQUENTIAL BIAXIAL STRAIN OF SEMI-CRYSTALLINE TUBES

摘要

The present disclosure provides a processing method for a polymer material to create a medical device with improved mechanical properties. This method allows better tailoring of the material's mechanical properties, hence a device to withstand greater structural loads in vivo. The method comprises providing an extruded polymer tube having an initial diameter and an initial length along a longitudinal direction, and longitudinally, bi-directionally straining the extruded polymer tube in a mold from the initial length to an expanded or extended length. The mold comprises a plurality of stationary heating elements. After longitudinally straining the tube, it is radially expanding in the mold from the initial diameter to an expanded diameter.

主权项

1. A method of processing a polymer, the method comprising:
longitudinally straining an extruded polymer tube in a mold, the extruded polymer tube having an initial diameter, an initial length, and a lumen therethrough along a longitudinal direction, wherein the extruded polymer tube is longitudinally strained from the initial length to an extended length, the mold comprising a plurality of stationary heating elements; and after the step of longitudinally straining an extruded polymer tube, radially expanding the extruded polymer tube in the mold wherein the extruded polymer tube is expanded from the initial diameter to an expanded diameter.