Biodegradable stent

Abstract

Abstract PURPOSE: To enable a stent to be readily formed as a tube and have biocompatibility and biodegradability by being made up of L-lactide, glycolide, and epsilon-caprolactone, and having specific tensile strength, elongation, and Shore hardness. CONSTITUTION: A biodegradable and biocompatible, flexible, transparent, thermoplastic elastomer is produced when about 15 to 25wt.%, epsilon-caprolactone, about 45 to 85wt.%, L-lactide, and about 5 to 50wt.% glycolide are blended together as a terpolymer composition for use in stent manufacture. This injection stent has a tensile strength of at least about 500psi, an elongation of about 10% or more, and a Shore A hardness of about 50 to 100 and can readily be processed or extrusion molded into a tube. The biodegrading process of the stent starts from the time when it is transplanted between a kidney and the bladder, and can extend over a period as long as several weeks to two or three months depending on the condition of an individual and the needs of the patient.

Inventors

• 👤 Jay R Goldberg
• 👤 ジェイ　アール．ゴールドバーグ
• 👤 Richard G Sinclair
• 👤 リチャード　ジー．シンクレア

Bibliographic Details