COMPOSITE METAL AND POLYMER LOCKING STENTS FOR DRUG DELIVERY.

摘要

The composite locking stent includes a metal structural member laminated between two layers of a polymeric material capable of carrying and delivering therapeutic drugs. The metal and polymer components are incorporated into a rolled locking design. The head end includes a slot for receipt of the tail end, so that the tail end and main body portion are insertable through the slot so as to form a cylindrical loop. The tail end preferably includes a plurality of teeth adapted to cooperatively engage the slot of the head end for retaining the tail end when inserted in the slot. The metal structural member can function as the mechanical structural backbone and a radio-opaque visualization marker, or with a polymeric material sufficiently strong to provide the structural strength required for a stent, the metal structural member can simply be provided to function as a radio-opaque visualization marker.