Biodegradable endoprostheses and methods of their fabrication
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9259339-B1
Publication Date
2016-02-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
A biodegradable stent prosthesis formed from a degradable polymeric material, having a plurality of luminal, abluminal, and side surfaces, where at least some of the abluminal surfaces are concave and optionally the side surfaces are convex.
Core Innovation
The disclosure describes an expandable biodegradable stent prosthesis formed from biodegradable polymeric material as a tubular body and patterned into struts and crowns. At least some struts or crowns have convex-shaped surfaces extending between the luminal and abluminal surfaces, while at least some abluminal surfaces are concave across substantially their width. The stent expands from a crimped configuration and has sufficient strength to support a body lumen.
Other claimed configurations provide a convex shape across substantially the thickness of struts or crowns to form a dogbone shape, or configure intersections between convex surfaces and luminal and abluminal surfaces to provide the greatest thickness. The supplied partial content does not include a background section identifying the problem being solved; therefore, that problem is not explicitly described in the provided text.
Claims Coverage
The patent claims comprise three inventive features, each covering an expandable biodegradable stent prosthesis with a distinct claimed surface geometry.
Concave abluminal and convex connecting surfaces
A biodegradable polymeric material formed as a tubular body and patterned into a stent prosthesis comprising struts and crowns, with at least some cross sections having a convex shaped surface extending between the luminal and abluminal surfaces and at least some abluminal surfaces concave across substantially their width. The stent is expandable at body temperature from a crimped configuration to an expanded larger configuration and has sufficient strength in the expanded configuration to support a body lumen.
Dogbone-shaped struts and crowns
Struts and crowns have a convex shape across substantially their thickness, providing a dogbone shape extending between the luminal and abluminal surfaces. The stent is radially expandable at body temperature from a crimped configuration to a deployed larger configuration and has sufficient strength in the deployed configuration to support a body lumen.
Convex cross-section with greatest thickness at the intersections
The cross section of at least some struts or crowns has a convex shape across substantially its thickness, and the intersections between the convex surface and the abluminal and luminal surfaces provide the greatest thickness of the struts or crowns. The stent is radially expandable at body temperature from a crimped configuration to a deployed larger configuration and has sufficient strength in the deployed configuration to support a body lumen.
The three independent claims cover biodegradable stents that support a body lumen and distinguish their struts or crowns through concave abluminal surfaces, dogbone-shaped convex cross-sections, or convex cross-sections with greatest thickness at the surface intersections.
Stated Advantages
The shaped surfaces are stated to improve radial strength and trackability.
The shaped surfaces are stated to improve balloon retention and vessel-wall apposition.
The shaped surfaces are stated to improve drug delivery and resistance to strut rotation or fracture.
Documented Applications
The expandable biodegradable stent prosthesis is intended to support a body lumen.
The disclosure identifies drug delivery as an application, including through a drug-polymer coating on at least some portions of the stent body.
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