Endoprosthesis having a fiber meshwork disposed thereon
First Claim
1. A medical device for implantation into an organism, comprising:
- an underlying structure comprising a metal framework, wherein the underlying structure is biodisintegrable; and
a fiber meshwork disposed upon the underlying structure, wherein the fiber meshwork comprises nano-fibers or micro-fibers, wherein the fiber meshwork is configured to ensure steady biodisintegration of the underlying structure over a first period of time inside the organism, wherein the fiber meshwork additionally effects controlled release of a pharmaceutically active agent absorbed therein over a second period of time inside the organism, wherein the first period of time is less than the second period of time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention comprises a medical device having an underlying structure on which is disposed a fiber meshwork composed of one or more fibers of substantially uniform diameter. The fiber meshwork may optionally have a multi-layer structure disposed upon it. Either or both of the fiber meshwork or the multi-layer structure may have one or more therapeutic agents absorbed within it. The fiber meshwork is permeable to body fluids and thereby permits body fluids to contact the underlying structure to facilitate its controlled disintegration. The fiber meshwork degrades more slowly than the underlying structure thereby permitting release of the therapeutic agent over a timescale longer than that of the lifetime of the underlying structure, while also ensuring that the support function of the underlying structure is not abrogated by the disintegration of the underlying structure.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A medical device for implantation into an organism, comprising:
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an underlying structure comprising a metal framework, wherein the underlying structure is biodisintegrable; and a fiber meshwork disposed upon the underlying structure, wherein the fiber meshwork comprises nano-fibers or micro-fibers, wherein the fiber meshwork is configured to ensure steady biodisintegration of the underlying structure over a first period of time inside the organism, wherein the fiber meshwork additionally effects controlled release of a pharmaceutically active agent absorbed therein over a second period of time inside the organism, wherein the first period of time is less than the second period of time. - 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, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification