Stryker Corporation
STENT BRAID PATTERN WITH ENHANCED RADIOPACITY

Abstract:

An implantable metallic braid is formed out of groups of filaments of a first material, groups of filaments of a second material different from the first material, and groups of filaments of a third material different from the first material and the second material. The filaments are braided together by a braiding machine and are arranged in a starting filament arrangement on the braiding machine before braiding begins, wherein the first material is a radiopaque material, the second material is a support material, and the third material is a DFT comprising the first and second materials. Different arrangements of the filaments in the starting filament arrangement and in the braid result in different levels of detail that can be observed in images of the braid, wherein certain arrangements of the filaments result in enhanced radiopacity without affecting other mechanical properties of the braid.