STENT HAVING A PROGRAMMED PATTERN OF IN VIVO DEGRADATION

摘要

The present invention provides a biodegradable polymeric stent having a programmed pattern of in vivo degradation. When deployed, (42, 44) element having two open ends, a plurality of regions circumferentially spaced around the cylindrical element, and extending from one open end to the other open end of the cylindrical element. Each of the regions (42, 44) is configured or designed to have a desired in vivo lifetime. At least one of the regions is designed to have a shorter in vivo lifetime than the other region or regions so that when the stent is deployed within the lumen of a vessel of a patient, the cylindrical element acquires one or more fissures which extend from one open end of the cylindrical element to the other open end of the cylindrical element within a desired, predetermined period of time after the stent is deployed in the patient. In one embodiment the stent is formed from a biodegradable polymeric band (12) comprising a head having a slot (20), and a tongue (14) comprising a catch or locking mechanism proximate the longitudinal edge thereof. The cylindrical element which has an inner (38), and outer (4) surface is formed by inserting a portion of the tongue through the slot to provide a cylindrical element having a first reduced diameter configuration.