SHAPE MEMORY POLYMERS BASED ON SEMICRYSTALLINE THERMOPLASTIC POLYURETHANES BEARING NANOSTRUCTURED HARD SEGMENTS

摘要

A medical device includes a balloon catheter having an expandable member, e.g., an inflatable balloon, at its distal end and a stent or other endoprosthesis. The stent is, for example, an apertured tubular member formed of a polymer and is assembled about the balloon. The stent has an initial diameter for delivery into the body and can be expanded to a larger diameter by inflating the balloon.