METHOD OF FORMING A BEND OF A PREDETERMINED BEND ANGLE IN A SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY WIRE AND METHOD OF MAKING A SELF-EXPANDING STENT

摘要

A method of making a self-expanding stent entails applying a bend stress sufficient to over-bend a portion of a wire by an amount in a range from about 85% to about 105%, where the wire comprises a Ni-Ti alloy and includes from about 40% to about 46% cold work. The bend stress is then released, thereby forming a bend having a predetermined bend angle in the wire. The application and release of the bend stress are repeated on successive portions of the wire in order to create a series of bends along a length of the wire in a predetermined bend pattern. The wire comprising the predetermined bend pattern is then positioned about a mandrel in an expanded stent geometry and heat set. Thus, a self-expanding stent is formed.