Claims
- 1. A method of making a stent delivery system, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a balloon catheter having a flexible shaft with proximal and distal ends, a hub affixed to the shaft proximal end, and a balloon affixed to the shaft near its distal end; (b) pleating the balloon by forming more than one longitudinal fold of balloon material, thereby forming more than one wing of balloon material; (c) wrapping the wings around the shaft; (d) placing the pleated and wrapped balloon into a mold which defines a plurality of recesses; (e) pressurizing and heating the balloon within the mold, whereby portions of the balloon expand within the recesses of the mold; thereby forming a plurality of ridges;
removing the balloon with ridges from the mold; (f) placing a tubular stent with a pattern of features over the balloon with ridges; (g) aligning the stent pattern of features with the balloon ridges; and (h) crimping the stent around the balloon.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the stent has a coating.
- 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the coating is loaded with a drug.
- 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the coating has a glass transition temperature, and wherein the balloon in said step (e) is heated to a temperature greater than the coating glass transition temperature.
- 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the balloon has a coating.
- 6. The method of claim 1, wherein individual ridges have different shapes.
- 7. The method of claim 1, wherein individual ridges have different sizes.
- 8. A method of making a stent delivery system, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a balloon catheter having a flexible shaft with proximal and distal ends, a hub affixed to the shaft proximal end, and a balloon affixed to the shaft near its distal end; (b) pleating the balloon by forming more than one longitudinal fold of balloon material, thereby forming more than one wing of balloon material; (c) wrapping the wings around the shaft; (d) placing the pleated and wrapped balloon into a mold which defines a plurality of recesses; (e) pressurizing and heating the balloon within the mold, whereby portions of the balloon expand within the recesses of the mold; thereby forming a plurality of ridges;
removing the balloon with ridges from the mold; (f) providing a stent with a drug-release coating and a pattern of features; (g) placing the tubular stent with a pattern of features over the balloon with ridges; (i) aligning the stent pattern of features with the balloon ridges; and (j) crimping the stent around the balloon.
- 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the coating has a glass transition temperature, and wherein the balloon in said step (e) is heated to a temperature greater than the coating glass transition temperature.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
60269430 |
Feb 2001 |
US |
|
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/269,430 filed Feb. 16, 2001.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/US02/04635 |
2/15/2002 |
WO |
|