STENT MADE FROM AN ULTRA HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT BIOABSORBABLE POLYMER WITH HIGH FATIGUE AND FRACTURE RESISTANCE

摘要

A stent made from an ultra high molecular weight bioabsorbable polymer is disclosed herein. The bioabsorbable polymer can have a Mw greater than 1 million g/mole or greater than 2 million g/mole. Methods of making the ultra high molecular weight polymer stent without degrading the molecular weight are further disclosed.

主权项

1. A method of making a stent body for supporting a vascular lumen, comprising
immersing a cylindrical member in a solution including a bioabsorbable polymer dissolved in a fluid, wherein the bioabsorbable polymer has an inherent viscosity greater than 6 dl/g or has a weight average molecular weight greater than 1 million g/mole, removing the member from the solution, wherein a portion of the solution remains on the surface of the member upon removal from the solution; removing solvent from the solution remaining on the member to form a tubular layer of the bioabsorbable polymer on the member; repeating the immersion step, removal from the solution step, and removal of the solvent step to form a final tubular layer of bioabsorbable polymer on the member of a desired thickness; and forming a stent body from the final tubular layer.