AVOIDING STRESS-INDUCED MARTENSITIC TRANSFORMATION IN NICKEL TITANIUM ALLOYS USED IN MEDICAL DEVICES

摘要

A process for assembling a medical device made from a nickel-titanium alloy for use in a mammalian body while avoiding the formation of stress-induced martensite and a medical device used in combination with a delivery system for deployment into the mammalian body are disclosed. By heating the nickel-titanium alloy of the medical device to a temperature above Md, and deforming and installing the device into a delivery system or holding capsule, it is possible to avoid the formation of stress-induced martensite in the stent, which stays in the austenitic phase throughout.