Improve matching ability of stent and balloon via preparing nano-structure by low-temperature plasma treatment.

The matching ability between stent and balloon is an important property to the trackability and crossibility of delivering system; it's also influence the flexibility of operation in clinic. In this work, the low-temperature plasma sputtering method was employed to prepare nano-structure on balloon surface, the matching properties were investigated via the removing force, compliance and aging test; the micro-morphous was also characterized by scanning electron microscope. The result indicates that the removing force of the sputtered balloon is obviously increased comparing to un-treated that, and the compliance of both balloon catheters is similar, but the lower-temperature plasma treated balloon is more preferable than that of untreated that through aging test results. The distribution of stent struts on balloon surface is more uniform than untreated surface, and the deformation and fold of treated surface wasn't found, which indicates that the matching ability between stent and balloon would be enhance via low-temperature plasma sputtering. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]