Partially biodegradable stent
First Claim
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1. An expandable stent comprising:
- a plurality of substantially cylindrical, serpentine ring structures, wherein each ring structure extends around a circumference of the stent and comprises at least one unit structure, wherein said at least one unit structure comprises a plurality of strut members and a plurality of bends, said strut members and bends forming a substantially zig-zag pattern; and
at least one connector member joining two of said ring structures when said stent is in an unexpanded state, wherein said at least one connector member is biodegradable and adapted to biodegrade when said stent is in an expanded state so that said two ring structures become substantially disjoined.
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Abstract
A stent is provided which after expansion within the body remains substantially rigid for a certain time, at which point the stent becomes increasingly conformable, due to the biodegradation of the connecting members, and thereby avoids mechanical irritation to the body'"'"'s tissue. Other portions of the stent structure may also biodegrade during this time. Also provided is a method of expanding such a stent.
218 Citations
47 Claims
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1. An expandable stent comprising:
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a plurality of substantially cylindrical, serpentine ring structures, wherein each ring structure extends around a circumference of the stent and comprises at least one unit structure, wherein said at least one unit structure comprises a plurality of strut members and a plurality of bends, said strut members and bends forming a substantially zig-zag pattern; and
at least one connector member joining two of said ring structures when said stent is in an unexpanded state, wherein said at least one connector member is biodegradable and adapted to biodegrade when said stent is in an expanded state so that said two ring structures become substantially disjoined. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of expanding a stent comprising:
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providing an expandable stent which in an unexpanded state comprises a plurality of substantially cylindrical, serpentine ring structures, wherein each ring structure extends around a circumference of the stent, and at least one biodegradable connector member joining two of said ring structures;
delivering the stent in an unexpanded state to a final destination within a mammalian body;
expanding the stent; and
biodegrading said at least one connector member so that said two ring structures become substantially disjoined. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification