Granted Patent B2

US 12,735,774 · App. 18/324,749 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

Inventors: Donal F. Manley (Cork, IE); Puneet Kamal Singh Gill (Anaheim, CA); Diarmuid P. Meagher (Golden, IE)

Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.

C22C30/00A61F2/82A61F2310/00035

Abstract

Claims (40)

1 . A process comprising:

providing an alloy formed from cobalt in an amount from about 20% to about 40% by weight, chromium, tungsten, and at least one of a platinum group metal, a precious metal, a refractory metal or another metal having an atomic number or density greater than that of cobalt; and

heating the alloy to a temperature of at least 1200° C.; and

quenching the alloy to 600° C. or less.

2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises cobalt, chromium, tungsten, and platinum.

3 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the quenching is performed within a period of time of less than 5 minutes.

4 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the quenching is performed by immersing the alloy in water.

5 . The process of claim 1 , wherein heating the alloy is to a temperature of at least about 1250° C. for a time period of at least about 30 minutes.

6 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises chromium in an amount of about 20% by weight.

7 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises nickel in an amount of about 10% by weight.

8 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the alloy is substantially or entirely free of molybdenum and/or carbon.

9 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the quenching is performed within a period of time of less than 1 minute.

10 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises no more than 1% of each of silicon, phosphorus, and sulfur by weight.

11 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the alloy further comprises manganese in an amount of up to 5% by weight.

12 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the alloy further comprises iron in an amount of up to 5% by weight.

13 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the alloy further comprises both manganese and iron in a concentration of up to about 3% each, by weight.

14 . The process of claim 1 , wherein a sum of cobalt and platinum comprises from 48% to about 60% by weight of the alloy.

15 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises:

about 20-37% cobalt;

about 20-30% platinum;

about 19-21% chromium;

about 14-16% tungsten;

about 9-11% nickel; and

about 1-2% manganese.

16 . The process of claim 15 , wherein the alloy comprises one or more trace elements as follows:

0-3% iron;

0-0.03% sulfur;

0-0.04% phosphorus; and

0-0.04% silicon.

17 . A process for the production of a cobalt-chromium alloy including tungsten and platinum, the process comprising:

providing an alloy formed from cobalt, chromium, tungsten, and platinum, wherein the alloy includes precipitate inclusions, so as to not be substantially homogenous;

heating the alloy to a temperature from about 1225° C. to 1275° C. for a time period from about 20 to about 40 minutes to remove the precipitate inclusions from the alloy, providing a substantially homogenous alloy; and

quenching the alloy to 600° C. or less within 5 minutes.

18 . The process of claim 17 , wherein the precipitate inclusions comprise tungsten.

19 . The process of claim 17 , wherein the precipitate inclusions comprise Co 3 W.

20 . A process for the production of a stent formed from a cobalt-chromium alloy including tungsten and platinum, the process comprising:

providing an alloy in the form of a tube or a rod formed from cobalt, chromium, tungsten, and platinum, wherein the alloy includes precipitate inclusions, so as to not be substantially homogenous;

heating the alloy to a temperature from about 1225° C. to 1275° C. for a time period from about 20 to about 40 minutes to remove the precipitate inclusions from the alloy, providing a substantially homogenous alloy;

quenching the alloy to 600° C. or less within 5 minutes; and

drawing the tube or rod.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (400)