Hi Max

Most implantable braided nitinol devices are manufactured to remove thermal oxides created during the component forming operation. There are notable exceptions such as Abbott's Amplatzer line of occluders or Acandis's neurovascular devices. If you determine that your braided stent needs to have the thermal oxides removed to render it biocompatible, then sandblasting is certainly one option, but not the only one. Other common mechanisms for removing thermal oxide are chemical pickling/etching or tumbling. Any of these techniques can be employed as a precursor to a polishing operation. 

The main challenge with both oxide removal and polishing of braided stents is the vast number of wire crossover points that serve as masked regions which can create non-uniform surfaces. Each oxide removal technique and braid pattern requires different strategies for uniformly removing the oxide and performing the subsequent polishing operation. This challenge is one of the very reasons why some designs like the ones mentioned above have chosen to forego the oxide removal step altogether.

Best of luck!

Scott Robertson

VP, Nitinol Technology

Resonetics