Method And Apparatus For Attaching Radiopaque Markers To A Stent

Abstract

A mandrel for supporting a stent and rollers for pressing a radiopaque marker into a stent are disclosed. The mandrel can have a forward portion for carrying the stent and a rear portion for urging the stent forward portion into a gap between the rollers. The mandrel may be pushed or pulled into the gap, which is sized to allow the rollers to press the marker into engagement with the stent. Prior to moving the mandrel into the gap, the marker may be placed on a surface of the stent or partially inside a recess in the stent. Several markers can be efficiently and uniformly pressed onto the stent by moving the mandrel into the gap in one continuous movement in an axial or lateral direction. Markers can also be pressed onto the stent by placing the stent in the gap and rotating the stent about its central axis.

1 . A method of attaching a radiopaque marker onto a stent, the method comprising: 
 conveying a stent positioned between two rollers, wherein a radiopaque marker disposed at a surface of the stent is pressed into a recess in the stent by one of the rollers.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein conveying the stent includes translating the stent along its central axis into a gap between the rollers.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein conveying the stent includes translating the stent into a gap between the rollers, wherein the stent is translated along a direction perpendicular to a central axis of the stent.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising placing the radiopaque marker on a surface of the stent prior to conveying the stent.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising placing the radiopaque marker partially in the recess in the stent prior to conveying the stent.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the radiopaque marker is deformed when it is pressed into the recess to reduce or eliminate protrusion of the marker from the stent surface.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stent is supported on a mandrel and conveying the stent includes translating the mandrel.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the mandrel comprises a forward portion for carrying the stent, the forward portion having a diameter less than or equal to an inner diameter of the stent.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the mandrel comprises a rear portion having a diameter greater than or equal to an outer diameter of the stent.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the mandrel comprises a rear portion having a diameter less than or equal to a gap between the rollers.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the rollers can rotate about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the stent.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the rollers can rotate about an axis that is substantially parallel to the central axis of the stent.  
   
   
       13 . A method of attaching a radiopaque marker onto a stent, the method comprising: 
 translating a stent mounted on a mandrel relative to a roller, the stent including a radiopaque marker positioned at a surface of the stent; and    allowing the roller to press the radiopaque marker in a manner that couples the radiopaque marker to the stent.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein translating the stent relative to the roller includes linearly translating the stent relative to the roller in a direction parallel to a central axis of the stent.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein translating the stent relative to the roller includes linearly translating the stent relative to the roller in a direction perpendicular to a central axis of the stent.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein translating the stent relative to the roller includes rotationally translating the stent relative to the roller about a central axis of the stent.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the stent is supported by the mandrel while the radiopaque marker is pressed with the roller.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus for attaching a radiopaque marker onto a stent, comprising: 
 a cylindrical mandrel including a forward portion and a rear portion, an outer diameter of the forward portion being less than an outer diameter of the rear portion, the forward portion for supporting a stent; and    rollers spaced apart by a gap that is greater than or equal to the outer diameter of the rear portion of the mandrel;    wherein the mandrel and rollers are movable in relation to each other so that the mandrel passes through the gap.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein a stent is mounted over the forward portion of the mandrel.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the rollers are oriented to allow each of the rollers to rotate about a rotational axis that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the mandrel.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the rollers are oriented to allow each of the rollers to rotate about a rotational axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the mandrel.