Process for forming an improved metal alloy stent

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US007540995B2

(12) United States Patent

Furst et al.

(io) Patent No.: (45) Date of Patent:

US 7,540,995 B2 *Jun. 2, 2009

(54) PROCESS FOR FORMING AN IMPROVED METAL ALLOY STENT

(75) Inventors: Joseph G. Furst, Lyndhurst, OH (US);

Udayan Patel, San Jose, CA (US);
Raymond W. Buckman, Jr., Pittsburgh,
PA (US)

(73) Assignee: ICON Medical Corp., Atlanta, GA (US)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 234 days.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

(21) Appl.No.: 11/635,158

(22) Filed: Dec. 1, 2006

(65) Prior Publication Data

US 2007/0077163 Al Apr. 5, 2007

Related U.S. Application Data

(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 11/343,104, filed on Jan. 30, 2006, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 11/282,461, filedonNov. 18, 2005, and a continuation-in-part of application No. 11/282, 376, filedonNov. 18, 2005.

(60) Provisional application No. 60/694,891, filed on Jun. 29, 2005, provisional application No. 60/658,226, filed on Mar. 3, 2005, provisional application No. 60/694,881, filed on Jun. 29, 2005, provisional application No. 60/739,688, filed on Nov. 23, 2005.

A method and process for at least partially forming a medical device that is at least partially formed of a novel metal alloy which improves the physical properties of the medical device.

36 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets