abstract |
A method of making a self-expanding luminal stent from a precursor of shape-memory material, in which the precursor is expanded in a radial direction to a radially to an expanded configuration and then heat-set in the expanded configuration, thereafter being radially compressed to a delivery configuration, the feature characterising the invention being the step imposing on the precursor during heat-setting the precursor in its expanded configuration a force which deforms the precursor in a direction orthogonal to said radial direction. |