Polymer composite stent with polymer particles
First Claim
1. An implantable medical device comprising a structural element, the structural element including a composite, the composite having a plurality of polymer nanoparticles dispersed within a polymer matrix, wherein each of the polymer nanoparticles is a discrete, single phase within the polymer matrix, wherein the polymer nanoparticles have a lower modulus than the matrix polymer, and wherein the composite comprises a higher toughness than the matrix polymer, wherein the polymer nanoparticles are biodegradable, wherein the polymer matrix is poly(L-lactide) and the nanoparticles comprise less than 5 wt % of the composite.
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Abstract
Polymer composite implantable medical devices, such as stents, and methods of manufacturing such devices are disclosed.
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Citations
20 Claims
- 1. An implantable medical device comprising a structural element, the structural element including a composite, the composite having a plurality of polymer nanoparticles dispersed within a polymer matrix, wherein each of the polymer nanoparticles is a discrete, single phase within the polymer matrix, wherein the polymer nanoparticles have a lower modulus than the matrix polymer, and wherein the composite comprises a higher toughness than the matrix polymer, wherein the polymer nanoparticles are biodegradable, wherein the polymer matrix is poly(L-lactide) and the nanoparticles comprise less than 5 wt % of the composite.
- 16. An implantable medical device comprising a structural element, the structural element including a composite, the composite having a plurality of polymer nanoparticles dispersed within a polymer matrix, wherein each of the polymer nanoparticles is a discrete, single phase within the polymer matrix, wherein the polymer nanoparticles have a lower modulus than the matrix polymer, and wherein the composite comprises a higher toughness than the matrix polymer, wherein the polymer nanoparticles are biodegradable, wherein the polymer matrix is poly(L-lactide), the device is a stent and the nanoparticles comprise less than 5 wt % of the composite.
Specification