Metal alloy for medical devices and implants
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to a medical device or implant made at least in part of a high strength, low modulus metal alloy comprising Niobium, Tantalum, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zirconium, Tungsten, and Molybdenum. The medical devices according to the present invention provide superior characteristics with regard to bio-compatibility, radio-opacity and MRI compatibility.
1. A stent, comprising:
a generally tubular member having a wall, the tubular member configured to be expandable from a radially compressed state to an expanded state, the tubular member being constructed of a Tantalum based alloy having a composition including,
about 10 weight percent Niobium;
about 2.5 weight percent of Tungsten;
up to 5 weight percent of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Hafnium, Rhenium, and a Lanthanide element; and
the balance being Tantalum.
2. The stent according to claim 1 , wherein the Tantalum based alloy is cold-worked to increase the strength thereof.
3. The stent according to claim 1 , wherein the stent further includes a coating disposed upon a surface of the tubular member.
4. The stent according to claim 3 , wherein the coating is a polymer.
5. The stent according to claim 4 , wherein the coating is a blend of polymers.
6. The stent according to claim 3 , wherein the coating is selected from the group consisting of biomolecules, peptides, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids.
7. The stent according to claim 3 , wherein the coating includes stem cells.
8. The stent according to claim 3 , wherein the coating is a bioactive substance.
9. The stent according to claim 8 , wherein the bioactive substance is chosen from the group consisting of antibiotics, growth factors, anti-inflammatory agents and anti-thrombogenic agents.
10. The stent according to claim 1 , wherein the tubular member exhibits a reduced wall thickness that provides a minimalized diameter in the compressed state.
11. The stent according to claim 10 , wherein the reduced wall thickness further reduces turbulence of fluid flow through a lumen of the tubular member.
12. The stent according to claim 1 , wherein the Tantalum based alloy exhibits a substantially uniform beta structure.
13. A stent, comprising:
a generally tubular member having a wall, the tubular member configured to be expandable from a radially compressed state to an expanded state, the tubular member being constructed of a Tantalum based alloy having a composition including,
about 10 weight percent Niobium;
about 7.5 weight percent of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Tungsten and Molybdenum; and
the balance being Tantalum.
14. The stent according to claim 13 , wherein the Tantalum based alloy is cold-worked to increase the strength thereof.
15. The stent according to claim 13 , wherein the Tantalum based alloy exhibits a substantially uniform beta structure.
16. A stent, comprising:
a generally tubular member having a wall, the tubular member configured to be expandable from a radially compressed state to an expanded state, the tubular member being constructed of an alloy having a composition including,
about 10 weight percent Niobium;
about 0.1 to about 15 weight percent Tungsten; and
about 75 to about 89.9 weight percent Tantalum.
17. The stent according to claim 16 , wherein the composition of the alloy includes about 7.5 weight percent Tungsten.
18. A stent, comprising:
a generally tubular member having a wall, the tubular member configured to be expandable from a radially compressed state to an expanded state, the tubular member being constructed of a Tantalum based alloy having a composition including,
about 10 weight percent Niobium;
about 7.5 weight percent Tungsten;
up to 5 weight percent of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Hafnium, Rhenium, and a Lanthanide element; and
the balance being Tantalum.
19. The stent according to claim 18 , wherein the Tantalum based alloy is cold-worked to increase the strength thereof.
20. The stent according to claim 18 , wherein the stent further includes a coating disposed upon a surface of the tubular member.
21. The stent according to claim 20 , wherein the coating is a polymer.
22. The stent according to claim 21 , wherein the coating is a blend of polymers.
23. The stent according to claim 20 , wherein the coating is selected from the group consisting of biomolecules, peptides, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids.
24. The stent according to claim 20 , wherein the coating includes stem cells.
25. The stent according to claim 20 , wherein the coating is a bioactive substance.
26. The stent according to claim 25 , wherein the bioactive substance is chosen from the group consisting of antibiotics, growth factors, anti-inflammatory agents and anti-thrombogenic agents.
27. The stent according to claim 18 , wherein the tubular member exhibits a reduced wall thickness that provides a minimalized diameter in the compressed state.
28. The stent according to claim 27 , wherein the reduced wall thickness further reduces turbulence of fluid flow through a lumen of the tubular member.
29. The stent according to claim 18 , wherein the Tantalum based alloy exhibits a substantially uniform beta structure.
30. A stent, comprising:
a generally tubular member having a wall, the tubular member configured to be expandable from a radially compressed state to an expanded state, the tubular member being constructed of an alloy having a composition including,
about 10 weight percent Niobium;
about 0.1 to about 15 weight percent at least one element selected from the group consisting of Tungsten and Molybdenum;
up to 5 weight percent of at least one additional element selected from the group consisting of Hafnium, Rhenium, and a Lanthanide element; and
about 55 to about 94.9 weight Tantalum.
31. The stent according to claim 30 , wherein the alloy is cold-worked to increase the strength thereof.
32. The stent according to claim 30 , wherein the stent further includes a coating disposed upon a surface of the tubular member.
33. The stent according to claim 32 , wherein the coating is a polymer.
34. The stent according to claim 33 , wherein the coating is a blend of polymers.
35. The stent according to claim 32 , wherein the coating is selected from the group consisting of biomolecules, peptides, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids.
36. The stent according to claim 32 , wherein the coating includes stem cells.
37. The stent according to claim 32 , wherein the coating is a bioactive substance.
38. The stent according to claim 37 , wherein the bioactive substance is chosen from the group consisting of antibiotics, growth factors, anti-inflammatory agents and anti-thrombogenic agents.
39. The stent according to claim 30 , wherein the tubular member exhibits a reduced wall thickness that provides a minimalized diameter in the compressed state.
40. The stent according to claim 39 , wherein the reduced wall thickness further reduces turbulence of fluid flow through a lumen of the tubular member.
41. The stent according to claim 30 , wherein the alloy exhibits a substantially uniform beta structure.