Biological organ dilating stent and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A stent is formed as a substantially tubular body possessing an outer diameter suitable for insertion into an organism, with the body being expandable when a radially outwardly directed expansion force is applied from inside the tubular body. The stent is fabricated from an alloy containing at least two noble metals selected among gold, platinum, silver, and copper, with the alloy possessing a density of not less than 14 g/cm3, a proof stress of not less than 300 MPa, and a elongation-to-break of not less than 20%.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The foregoing and additional aspects of the disclosed stent and method will become more apparent from the following detailed description considered with reference to the accompanying drawing figures briefly described below.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the stent according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a front view of the stent illustrating the stent in a developed state in which the circumference of the stent is laid flat.

Claims

1. A biological organ dilating stent comprising: a tubular body positionable in a biological lumen and expandable radially outwardly upon application of a radially outwardly directed expansion force from inside the tubular body;the tubular body comprising a plurality of axially arranged annular units each comprised of at least one wavy annular element, with axially adjacent annular units being connected to one another by link parts;the tubular body being fabricated from an alloy containing gold and at least one metal selected from among platinum, silver, and copper;the alloy being devoid of mercury, nickel, cobalt, tin, palladium and chromium;the alloy possessing a density equal to or greater than 14 g/cm3;the alloy possessing a proof stress equal to or greater than 300 MPa; andthe alloy possessing a elongation-to-break equal to or greater than 20%.

2. The biological organ dilating stent as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tubular body possesses a wall thickness of not more than 60 μm.

3. The biological organ dilating stent as set forth in claim 1, wherein the alloy contains at least two metals selected from among platinum, silver, and copper.

4. A biological organ dilating stent comprising: a tubular body possessing an outer diameter permitting insertion of the tubular body into a biological lumen and expandable upon application of a radially outwardly directed expansion force from inside the tubular body;the tubular body being fabricated from an alloy containing at least two noble metals selected from among gold, platinum, silver, and copper;the alloy possessing a density not less than 14 g/cm3;the alloy possessing a proof stress not less than 300 MPa; andthe alloy possessing a elongation-to-break not less than 20%.

5. The biological organ dilating stent as set forth in claim 4, wherein the alloy does not contain any of mercury, nickel, cobalt, tin, palladium and chromium.

6. The biological organ dilating stent as set forth in claim 5, wherein the tubular body possesses a wall thickness of not more than 60 μm.

7. The biological organ dilating stent as set forth in claim 6, wherein the alloy contains gold as a principal component, and contains at least one noble metal selected from among platinum, silver, and copper.

8. The biological organ dilating stent as set forth in claim 6, wherein the alloy contains gold as a principal component, and contains at least two noble metals selected from among platinum, silver, and copper.

9. The biological organ dilating stent as set forth in claim 6, wherein the alloy contains gold as a principal component, and contains platinum, silver and copper.

10. The biological organ dilating stent as set forth in claim 4, wherein the stent has a wall thickness of not more than 60 μm.

11. The biological organ dilating stent as set forth in claim 4, wherein the alloy contains gold as a principal component, and contains at least one noble metal selected from among platinum, silver, and copper.

12. The biological organ dilating stent as set forth in claim 4, wherein the alloy contains gold as a principal component, and contains at least two noble metals selected from among platinum, silver, and copper.

13. The biological organ dilating stent as set forth in claim 4, wherein the alloy contains gold as a principal component, and contains platinum, silver and copper.

14. A method of manufacturing a biological organ dilating stent comprising: preparing a tubular body formed of an alloy containing at least two noble metals selected from among gold, platinum, silver, and copper, with the alloy possessing a density of not less than 14 g/cm3, a proof stress of not less than 300 MPa, and a elongation-to-break of not less than 20%; andremoving portions of the tubular body by laser beam machining to fabricate a stent, with the stent possessing an outer diameter insertable into a biological lumen and expandable upon application of a radially outwardly directed expansion force from inside the tubular body.

15. The method of manufacturing a biological organ dilating stent as set forth in claim 14, wherein the alloy from which the tubular body is prepared does not contain any of mercury, nickel, cobalt, tin, palladium, and chromium.

16. The method of manufacturing a biological organ dilating stent as set forth in claim 15, wherein the preparation of the tubular body comprises preparing a tubular body possessing a wall thickness of not more than 60 μm.

17. The method of manufacturing a biological organ dilating stent as set forth in claim 16, wherein the alloy from which the tubular body is prepared contains gold as a principal component, and contains at least one noble metal selected from among platinum, silver, and copper.

18. The method of manufacturing a biological organ dilating stent as set forth in claim 14, wherein the preparation of the tubular body comprises preparing a tubular body possessing a wall thickness of not more than 60 μm.

19. The method of manufacturing a biological organ dilating stent as set forth in claim 14, wherein the alloy contains gold as a principal component, and contains platinum, silver and copper.