Thin film stent

1. A method for manufacturing a body implantable thin film medical device, said method comprising:

providing a substrate;

depositing a thin film of material onto the substrate;

releasing the thin film of material from the substrate;

annealing the thin film of material; and

forming the thin film of material into a medical device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the silicon is provided with a layer of silicon oxide, and the nitinol is deposited over the layer of silicon oxide; and

the releasing step comprises providing a substrate etchant to dissolve the layer of silicon oxide.

3. A method for manufacturing a body implantable thin film medical device, said method comprising:

providing a substrate;

depositing a thin film of material onto the substrate;

releasing the thin film of material from the substrate; and

forming the thin film of material into a medical device;

wherein the substrate is silicon; and

the thin film of material is nitinol.

4. A method for manufacturing a body implantable thin film medical device, said method comprising:

providing a substrate;

sputter depositing a thin film of material onto the substrate;

releasing the thin film of material from the substrate;

forming the thin film of material into a medical device

hipping the thin film of material; and

thereafter cold working the thin film of material.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of cold working the thin film of material comprises pack rolling the thin film of material in at least one pass through a thin film roller.