Abstract:
A medical device such as a stent with a catheter, delivery balloon and an infrared energy source is disclosed. The infrared energy source heats the delivery balloon, and/or the stent to a temperature above body temperature, thereby increasing the flexibility of the stent such that formation of cracks in the stent upon its expansion is reduced or eliminated. Either the delivery balloon, and/or the stent may include an infrared energy absorbing material.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a method of extending the shelf-life of constructs, in particular bioabsorbable stents, comprising semi-crystalline polymers by increasing the crystallinity of the polymers.
Abstract:
Methods and systems for manufacturing an implantable medical device, such as a stent, from a tube with desirable mechanical properties, such as improved circumferential strength and rigidity, are described herein. Improved circumferential strength and rigidity may be obtained by inducing molecular orientation in materials for use in manufacturing an implantable medical device. Some embodiments may include inducing molecular orientation by expansion of a molten annular polymer film. Other embodiments may include inducing circumferential molecular orientation by inducing circumferential flow in a molten polymer. In certain embodiments, circumferential orientation may be induced by expansion of a polymer tube. Further embodiments may include manufacturing an implantable medical device from a biaxially oriented planar polymer film.
Abstract:
A device and a method of manufacturing an implantable medical device, such as a stent, are described herein. The device includes a metallic region composed of a bioerodable metal and a polymer region composed of a biodegradable polymer contacting the metallic region. The metallic region may erode at a different rate when exposed to bodily fluids than the polymer region when exposed to bodily fluids. In certain embodiments, the polymer region is an outer layer and the metallic region is an inner layer of the device. A further aspect of the invention includes device and a method of manufacturing the device that includes a mixture of a biodegradable polymer and bioerodable metallic particles. The mixture may be used to fabricate an implantable medical device or to coat an implantable medical device. In some embodiments, the metallic particles are metallic nanoparticles.
Abstract:
This disclosure describes a method for crimping a polymeric stent onto a catheter for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or other intraluminal interventions. The method comprises crimping the stent onto a catheter when the polymer is at a target temperature other than ambient temperature. The polymer can optionally comprise drug(s).
Abstract:
Disclosed is a stent comprising a bioabsorbable polymeric scaffolding; and a plurality of depots in at least a portion of the scaffolding, wherein the plurality of depots comprise a bioabsorbable material, wherein the degradation rate of all or substantially all of the bioabsorbable polymer of the scaffolding is faster than the degradation rate of all or substantially all of the bioabsorbable material of the depots.
Abstract:
The invention provides an implantable medical device comprising: a structural element, wherein the structural element includes: a continuous phase comprising a first polymer; a discrete phase within the continuous phase, wherein the discrete phase has a second polymer including discrete phase segments; and anchor segments that have substantially the same chemical make up as the first polymer of the continuous phase; wherein at least some of the anchor segments have partially or completely phase-separated from the discrete phase into the continuous phase.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a composition of a first single enantiomer homopolymer and a separate stereocomplex formed of a second single enantiomer homopolymer and it mirror image enantiomer, wherein the first and second single enantiomer homopolymers can be the same or different.
Abstract:
The invention provides a method for fabricating an implantable medical device to increase biocompatibility of the device, the method comprising: heat setting a polymer construct, wherein the polymer construct is at a temperature range of from about Tg to about 0.6(Tm−Tg)+Tg such that the set polymer construct comprises a crystalline structure having crystals at a size less than about 2 microns; and fabricating an implantable medical device from the heat set polymer construct.