FABRICATING POLYMER STENTS

摘要

A method of fabricating a stent comprising: - injecting a molten polymer into a mold, the mold being in the shape of a cylindrical radially expandable stent including at least one structural element, the mold having at least one conduit to form the at least one structural element; - cooling the molten polymer below the Tm of the polymer, wherein the cooled molten polymer forms the stent, wherein the stent is capable of being disposed within a bodily lumen,- and - removing the stent from the mold. A method of fabricating a stent comprising: - disposing a molten reaction mixture into a mold, the mold being in the shape of a radially expandable stent including at least one structural element, the reaction mixture comprising reactive species capable of causing polymerization or crosslinking in the reaction mixture upon exposure to radiation; and - exposing the reaction mixture to radiation, the radiation causing polymerization or crosslinking in the reaction mixture, the stent being formed from a polymer formed from the polymerization or crosslinking.