Expandable stents and method for making same

Abstract

The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as an artery, and a method for making it from a single length of tubing. The stent consists of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common axis and interconnected by one or more interconnective elements. The individual radially expandable cylindrical elements consist of ribbon-like material disposed in an undulating pattern. Portions of the expanded stent project outwardly into engagement with the vessel wall to more securely attach the stent.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . A method of chemically etching a metallic tubular member to form an intravascular stent, comprising:
 applying a photoresistive coating using electrophoretic deposition to a tubular surface of the metallic tubular member;   selectively removing portions of the photoresistive coating from the tubular surface thereby providing exposed portions of the metallic surface and protected portions of the metallic surface;   the tubular member having a wall thickness of about 0.003 inch (0.0762 mm);   exposing the metallic surface to a chemical etchant solution thereby removing a full wall thickness of the metallic member to form a pattern generally corresponding to the exposed portions of the metallic surface;   removing the photoresistive coating; and   electrochemically polishing the metallic tubular member.