POLYMERIC STENT POLISHING METHOD AND APPARATUS

摘要

A method and apparatus for simultaneously polishing the inner and outer surfaces of an unpolished polymeric stent using a heat process. The unpolished stent can be mounted, for example, on a “spiral-mandrel,” a tubular helical structure with gaps in between a series of coils of the structure. Heat from a heat source can then applied to the spiral-mandrel at a range between the glass transition temperature and melting temperature of the polymer of the stent.

主权项

1. A method of polishing a polymeric stent, comprising:
mounting a stent made from a material including a polymer onto a structure having a series of gaps; and after the mounting, subjecting the stent to heat from a heat source so as to modify a surface morphometry of at least a section of the stent from an angular configuration to a non-angular configuration.