Precision
manufacturing of cardiac stents used to shore up diseased blood
vessels leading to the heart
Abstract:
Berkeley
Lab is seeking a qualified partner(s) to work with us in a collaborative
effort to further develop, test, and commercialize improved micro
and nano machining technologies to manufacture medical cardiac stents
used to shore up weak blood vessels leading to the heart. Stents
of various design motifs have become increasingly popular as an
adjunct to artery-aclearing angioplasty procedures. Today, cardiac
stents represent a market measured in the billions with phenomenal
growth potential. We believe Berkeley Lab’s multiple
focused ion beam technology offers the potential to significantly
lower stent production costs, improve quality, and provide a safer
operation than the current laser system approach. The Lab has a
strong Intellectual Property (IP) position in ion beams and substantial
experience developing his technology. Specifically, some of the
expected benefits include:
- Substantially
lower costs - less than 50% of a laser system; uses a simple electrostatic
lens system with cheap dc power supplies
- Faster
production times with multiple cutting beams working simultaneously
vs. a single laser cutting beam.
- Smaller
footprint even for a multiple focused ion beam milling system.
- Safer
to operate than a laser system where toxic gases are involved.
- Operates with small, computer controlled system; easier to manipulate and maintain than comparable laser system.
While ion beams are currently used for various milling operations, we believe Berkeley Lab has the unique expertise and the IP position to develop a multiple focused ion beam approach. The broad scope of the suggested collaboration would lead to a specially developed prototype multiple focused ion beam milling machine suitable for the manufacture of cardiac stents of various motifs, diameters and metallurgies.
Schedule, Cost, and Contract:
Depending on Partner’s objectives and prototype design requirements,
we visualize an approximate 12 to 18 month development program.
Costs to be determined based upon mutually agreed scope. Intellectual
property benefits are applicable.
Partnering Mission:
Berkeley Lab is a U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory managed by the University of California. Our mission includes partnering with industry to commercialize our inventions.
Reference Number: IB-1217
Status: US Patent # 5,945,677
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