Stent, method for processing stent, and method of stenting a patient

Abstract

The subject invention relates to a stent with respect to which the occurrence of artifacts in nuclear spin tomography can be reduced or avoided. The subject invention also pertains to the etching of stents, incorporating titanium and/or titanium alloys, that have been processed with tools containing magnetizing components. The subject invention can also be useful for the control of in-stent-restenosis by allowing imaging under nuclear spin tomography to see in-stent-restenosis in the interior of the subject stent.

1 - 5 . (canceled).  
     
     
         6 . A stent, comprising: 
 TIAl3V2.5, wherein the TIAl3V2.5 exhibits a low incidence of artifacts in nuclear spin tomography.    
     
     
         7 . The stent according to claim  1 , wherein the stent consists essentially entirely of TIAl3V2.5.  
     
     
         8 . The stent according to claim  1 , wherein the stent is viewable in nuclear spin tomography.  
     
     
         9 . The stent according to claim  1 , wherein TIAl3V2.5 has the following composition by weight: 
 up to 0.08% C; up to 0.03% N 2 ; up to 0.15% O 2 ; 2.0% to 3.0% V; 2.5% to 3.5% Al; up to 0.25% Fe; less than 0.015% H 2 ; and the balance Ti.    
     
     
         10 . The stent according to claim  2 , wherein TIAl3V2.5 has the following composition by weight: 
 up to 0.08% C; up to 0.03% N 2 ; up to 0.15% O 2 ; 2.0% to 3.0% V; 2.5% to 3.5% Al; up to 0.25% Fe; up to 0.015% H 2 ; and the balance Ti.    
     
     
         11 . A stent, comprising: 
 TIAl6V4, wherein the TIAl6V4 exhibits a low incidence of artifacts in nuclear spin tomography.    
     
     
         12 . The stent according to  claim 6 , wherein the stent is expandable with a balloon catheter.  
     
     
         13 . The stent accrediting to  claim 6 , wherein the stent consists essentially entirety of TIAl6V4.  
     
     
         14 . The stent according to  claim 6 , wherein the TIAl6V4 has the following composition by weight: 
 up to 0.08% C; up to 0.05% N 2 ; up to 0.2% O 2 ; 3.5% to 4.5% V; 5.5% to 6.75% Al; up to 0.4% Fe; up to 0.015% H 2 ; and the balance Ti.    
     
     
         15 . The stent according to  claim 8 , wherein the TIAl6V4 has the following 
 up to 0.08% C; up to 0.05% N 2 ; up to 0.2% O 2 ; 3.5% to 4.5% V; 5.5% to 6.75% Al; up to 0.4% Fe; up to 0.015% H 2 ; and the balance Ti.