SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ATTACHING RADIOPAQUE MARKERS TO A MEDICAL DEVICE

1 . A method of attaching a radiopaque marker to an intravascular device comprises:

positioning an end of a wire in a wire dispensing tool head above a receiving hole in an intravascular device;

placing the end of the wire on or in the receiving hole;

cutting the wire;

applying a force on the cut wire to deform the cut wire such that the cut wire connects to the receiving hole.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising molding the end of the wire into a desired shape before cutting the wire.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein molding the end comprises applying an electric discharge to the end, thereby forming a ball.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein apply a force further comprises forming a first head at a first end of the marker and a second head at the opposite end.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising switching tool heads on an assembly system after cutting the wire, comprising switching from the dispensing tool head to a hammer tool head.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein applying the force on the cut wire comprises applying the force with the hammer tool head.

7 . A system for attaching a radiopaque marker to an intravascular device comprising:

a wire dispensing tool configured to precisely position an end of a wire at a receiving hole in an intravascular device;

a cutting tool configured to cut off the end of the wire after it is positioned at the receiving hole; and

a hammer tool configured to apply a force on the cut wire end to deform the wire end such that the wire end connects to the receiving hole.

8 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising a mold configured to shape the end of the wire into a desired shape before cutting the wire.

9 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising a power source and an electrode configured to apply an electric discharge to the wire end to thereby form a ball.

10 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the wire dispensing tool and the cutting tool are part of the same tool head.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the wire dispensing tool comprises a slot to receive the cutting tool to cut the wire end.

12 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising a retainer configured to hold the cut wire end within the wire dispensing tool after it has been cut.

13 . A method of attaching a radiopaque marker to an intravascular device comprises:

advancing a wire such that a wire tip extends past a wire dispensing tool head;

applying an electric discharge to the wire tip, thereby forming a ball;

positioning the ball at a receiving hole in an intravascular device;

cutting the wire;

applying a force on the ball to deform the ball such that the ball forms a radiopaque marker connected to the receiving hole.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein apply a force further comprises forming a first head at a first end of the marker and a second head at the opposite end.

15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising switching tool heads after cutting the wire, comprising switching from the dispensing tool head to a hammer tool head.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein applying the force on the ball comprises applying the force with the hammer tool head.

17 . A method of attaching a radiopaque marker to an intravascular device comprises:

applying suction to a radiopaque marker;

positioning the radiopaque marker above a receiving hole in an intravascular device;

releasing suction from the radiopaque marker such that the radiopaque marker is placed on the receiving hole;

applying a force on the radiopaque marker to deform the radiopaque marker such that the radiopaque marker connects to the receiving hole, a first head forming at a first end of the radiopaque marker and a second head forming at the opposite end.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein applying suction comprises applying suction with a vacuum pickup tool head on an assembly system and positioning the radiopaque marker comprises positioning the radiopaque marker with the vacuum pickup tool head.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising switching tool heads on the assembly system after releasing suction, comprising switching from the vacuum pickup tool head to a hammer tool head.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein applying the force on the radiopaque marker comprises applying the force exceeding 0.1N with the hammer tool head.