MEDICAL DEVICES COMPRISING IONICALLY AND NON-IONICALLY CROSS-LINKED POLYMER HYDROGELS HAVING IMPROVED MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

摘要

Shaped medical devices, e.g. stents, having improved mechanical properties and structural integrity are disclosed. The devices commprise shaped polymeric hydrogels which are both ionically and non-ionically cross-linked and which exhibit improved structural integrity after selective removal of the cross-linking ions. Process for making such devices are also disclosed wherein an ionically cross-linkable polymer is both ionically and non-ionically crosslinked to form a shaped medical device. When implanted in the body, selective in-vivo stripping of the cross-linking ions produces a softer, more flexible implant having improved structural integrity.