Endoluminal implantable surfaces, stents, and grafts and method of making the same

Abstract

A method of manufacturing an endoluminal implantable surface, stent, or graft includes the steps of providing an endoluminal implantable surface, stent, or graft having an inner wall surface, an outer wall surface, and a wall thickness and forming a pattern design into the endoluminal implantable surface, stent, or graft. At least one groove is created in the inner surface of the intravascular stent by applying a laser machining method to the inner surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing an endoluminal implantable surface, stent, or graft, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. providing an endoluminal implantable surface, stent, or graft having an inner wall surface, an outer wall surface, and a wall thickness between about 10 and about 60 microns;   b. forming a pattern design into the endoluminal implantable surface, stent, or graft;   c. creating at least one groove in the inner surface of the intravascular stent by applying a laser machining method to the inner surface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the creating step further includes the steps of:
 a. positioning a laser beam along a longitudinal axis of the stent;   b. aligning the laser beam with a mirror positioned along the longitudinal axis; and   c. redirecting the laser beam at the inner wall surface.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the redirecting step further includes at least one of displacing and rotating the mirror relative to the inner wall surface. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the laser machining method is selected from the group of laser machining methods consisting of: using a femto-second laser, using an excimer laser, using a water assisted laser, and laser assisted chemical machining. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the forming step further comprises applying a second laser machining method selected from the group of laser machining methods consisting of: using a femto-second laser, using an excimer laser, using a water assisted laser, and laser assisted chemical machining to form the pattern design. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the forming step further comprises applying a photolithographic method to form the pattern design. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing step further comprises providing the endoluminal implantable surface, stent, or graft is in an expanded configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wall thickness includes at least one layer of a vacuum deposited metal. 
     
     
         9 . A method of manufacturing a self-supporting endoluminal implantable surface, stent, or graft, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a self-supporting endoluminal implantable surface, stent, or graft having an inner wall surface, an outer wall surface, and a maximum wall thickness between about 10 and about 60 microns;   b. forming a pattern design into the self-supporting endoluminal implantable surface, stent, or graft; and   c. creating at least one groove in the inner surface of the self-supporting endoluminal implantable surface, stent, or graft by applying an athermal ablation laser machining method to the inner surface to reduce heat-affected zones, wherein applying the athermal ablation laser machining method comprises the steps of:
 i. positioning an athermal ablation laser beam along a longitudinal axis of the self-supporting endoluminal implantable surface, stent, or graft; 
 ii. aligning the athermal ablation laser beam with a mirror positioned along the longitudinal axis; and 
 iii. redirecting the athermal ablation laser beam at the inner wall surface. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the redirecting step further includes at least one of displacing and rotating the mirror relative to the inner wall surface. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the athermal ablation laser machining method is selected from the group consisting of: a femto-second laser, an excimer laser, a water assisted laser, and laser assisted chemical machining. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the forming step further comprises applying an athermal ablation laser machining method selected from the group consisting of: a femto-second laser, an excimer laser, a water assisted laser, and laser assisted chemical machining to form the pattern design. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the forming step further comprises applying a photolithographic method to form the pattern design. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the providing step further comprises providing the self-supporting endoluminal implantable surface, stent, or graft in an expanded configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the wall thickness includes at least one layer of a vacuum deposited metal.