Laser cutting process for forming stents
Systems and methods for improving the cutting efficiency and cut profile of stent strut is provided. A means for altering the energy distribution of a laser beam is provided, along with various ways of controlling a laser to provide for improved strut configurations are provided. A method for improved cutting speeds using a combination of laser sources is also provided.
1. A laser cutting system for cutting a stent pattern into a stent, comprising:
a pico-second laser for producing a laser beam;
a laser-shaping module capable of altering the intensity profile of the laser beam from a first intensity distribution to a second intensity distribution, the second intensity distribution being a top hat intensity distribution;
a collimating lens; and
a focusing lens for focusing the laser beam having the top hat intensity distribution onto a stent tube;
wherein the laser beam having the top hat intensity distribution is controlled to cut a stent strut having a steep sidewall and improved geometrical uniformity than can be obtained with a laser beam having a Gaussian intensity distribution.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the laser-shaping module re-maps the first intensity distribution of the laser beam to the second intensity distribution.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first intensity distribution is a Gaussian intensity distribution.