Bioabsorbable marker having radiopaque constituents

• US 6,626,936 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2000
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Stinson, Jonathan S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prebilic, Paul B.
• Application Number:
  US09/748,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20010021873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.15, 623/1.34, 623/23.7, 623/23.71, 606/191, 606/198
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12022 Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires plugging an opening in the wall of an organ A61B17/0057; occluders for the cervical canal A61F6/146; vas deferens occluders A61F6/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12109 in a blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1214 Coils or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12172 having a pre-set deployed three-dimensional shape methods of manufacturing A61B2017/00526
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/86 Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3008 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/50 Materials characterised by their function or physical properties , e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/58 Materials at least partially resorbable by the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/148 Materials at least partially resorbable by the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/18 Materials at least partially X-ray or laser opaque
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0108 using radio-opaque or ultrasound markers

Abstract

A temporary bioabsorbable-radiopaque marker for use on an implantable endoprosthesis. The bioabsorbable-radiopaque marker is adapted to be disposed on or adjacent an implantable endoprosthesis in a body lumen for a predetermined amount of time until the bioabsorbable and radiopaque materials are absorbed or dispersed in the body.

Claims

1. A medical assembly comprising:

an implantable prosthesis adapted for delivery to a treatment site in a body lumen, the prosthesis being tubular, radially expandable, formed of a plurality of elongate filaments, and degradable in situ at a first degradation rate; and

an elongate radiopaque marker including a bioabsorbable material, the marker being mechanically secured with respect to the elongate filaments of the prosthesis for implantation therewith and in a manner to enable locating the prosthesis in vivo by fluoroscopically imaging the marker, the radiopaque marker being degradable at a second degradation rate higher than the first degradation rate;

wherein the elongate filaments of the prosthesis form a plurality of crossing points, and the radiopaque marker is secured in surrounding relation to a pair of the elongate filaments at one of the crossing points.

2. the assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the filaments of the prosthesis are interbraided with one another, and the radiopaque marker comprises an elongate element interbraided with the elongate filaments.

3. A medical assembly comprising:

a metallic, tubular, implantable and radially expandable prosthesis formed of a plurality of elongate filaments interbraided with one another, adapted for delivery to a treatment site within a body lumen; and

a radiopaque marker comprising a bioabsorbable material and a radiopaque material and being more radiopaque than the prosthesis, wherein the bioabsorbable material is capable of being metabolized through the body whereby the marker is degradable in vivo, wherein the marker comprises an elongate element interbraided with the filaments and thereby secured with respect to the prosthesis in a manner to enable locating the prosthesis in vivo by fluoroscopically imaging the marker.

4. A device for medical treatment of a body lumen, including:

an expandable implantable prosthesis comprising a plurality of elongate filaments and including bioabsorbable material; and

at least one radiopaque marker mechanically secured with respect to the prosthesis for implantation therewith and in a manner to enable locating the prosthesis in vivo by fluoroscopic imaging of the marker, the radiopaque marker including a bioabsorbable material and being more radiopaque than the prosthesis;

wherein the elongate filaments form a plurality of crossing points, and the radiopaque marker is secured in surrounding relation to a pair of the elongate filaments at one of the crossing points.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein:

the filaments are interbraided with one another, and the marker comprises an elongate element interbraided with the filaments.

6. the system of claim 4 wherein:

the radiopaque marker comprises a radiopaque filament interwoven with the elongate filaments of the prosthesis.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein:

the radiopaque marker is secured in surrounding relation to a pair of the elongate filaments at one of the crossing points.

8. The system of claim 4 wherein:

the radiopaque marker comprises a radiopaque filament smaller in diameter than the elongate filaments of the prosthesis.