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US6368356B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Medical devices comprising hydrogel polymers having improved mechanical properties

Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
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Filing: 2000-02-25
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Granted: 2002-04-09
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Expires: 2020-02-25
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Abstract

Abstract The invention provides a means of boosting the mechanical performance of shaped shaped medical devices comprising polymer hydrogels, such as stents, so that they may be more easily inserted into or removed from the body. In one aspect, the invention provides shaped medical devices having increased mechanical strength and comprising both ionic and covalent crosslinks. In another aspect, the invention provides a shaped medical device having a heterogeneous polymer composition and a variable dissolution or degradation rate along its length. The shaped medical devices according to the present invention retain their shape and stiffness during insertion into the body and can swell and soften inside the body to enhance patient comfort.

Inventors

  • 👤 Sheng Ping Zhong
  • 👤 Arthur R. Madenjian
  • 👤 Douglas E. Godshall
  • 👤 John M. Ronan
  • 👤 Samuel A. Thompson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 16:51
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M27/00; A61M27/002; A61M27/008; A61L; A61L27/00; A61L27/50; A61L27/52; A61L29/00; A61L29/14; A61L29/145; A61L31/00; A61L31/14; A61L31/145; A61L31/18; C; C08; C08B; C08B37/00; C08B37/006; C08B37/0084; C08J; C08J3/00; C08J3/24; C08J3/243; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/82; C08J2300/00; C08J2300/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S524/00; Y10S524/918; Y10S525/00; Y10S525/903; Y10S623/00; Y10S623/924; Y10S623/925; Y10S623/926

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim 39 words
A medical device that does not require a surgical procedure for removal comprising a crosslinkable polymer having ionic crosslinks susceptible to dissolution in vivo, the medical device comprising at least two segments that degrade in vivo at different rates.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 39 words
A medical device that does not require a surgical procedure for removal comprising a crosslinkable polymer having ionic crosslinks susceptible to dissolution in vivo, the medical device comprising at least two segments that degrade in vivo at different rates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 38 words
The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the polymer is derived from a polymer precursor selected from the group consisting of hyaluronic acid, heparin, chondroitin sulfate, pectinic acid, a carboxyl-derivatized polysaccharide, a synthetic polymer, and combinations thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 46 words
The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the polymer is derived from a polymer precursor selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxy ethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide, poly (N-vinyl pyrrolidone), polyethylene oxide, hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile, polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, polyethylene amine, a polysaccharide, and combinations thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 38 words
The medical device of claim 3 , wherein the polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of alginic acid, pectinic acid, carboxymethyl cellulose, hyaluronic acid, chitosan, cationic guar, and cationic starch, including salts, and esters, and combinations thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a crosslinkable polymer having non-ionic crosslinks susceptible to hydrolysis in vivo.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 15 words
The medical device of claim 5 , wherein the non-ionic crosslinks are reversible covalent crosslinks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 18 words
The medical device of claim 5 , wherein the polymer is crosslinked by a polyfunctional covalent crosslinking agent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 22 words
The medical device of claim 5 , wherein the polymer is crosslinked by a covalent crosslinking agent which is a polyfunctional carbodiimide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 24 words
The medical device of claim 5 , wherein the polymer is crosslinked by a covalent crosslinking agent which is a polyfunctional aziridine crosslinking agent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 23 words
The medical device of claim 5 , wherein the polymer is crosslinked by a covalent crosslinking agent which is a polyisocyanate crosslinking agent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 23 words
The medical device of claim 5 , wherein the polymer is crosslinked by a covalent crosslinking agent which is a glutaraldehyde crosslinking agent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 42 words
The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the device includes a first segment and a second segment each having ionic crosslinks susceptible to dissolution in vivo such that the first segment and the second segment degrade in vivo at different rates.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 21 words
The medical device of claim 12 , wherein the first segment has a higher ionic crosslinking content than the second segment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 19 words
The medical device of claim 12 , wherein the first segment has a thinner wall than the second segment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 31 words
The medical device of claim 12 , wherein the first segment comprises a polymer crosslinked with a first ion and the second segment comprises a polymer crosslinked with a second ion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 19 words
The medical device of 15 , wherein the first ion has a higher electron affinity than the second ion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 19 words
The medical device of 15 , wherein the first ion has a higher electron affinity than the second ion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 23 words
The medical device of 16 , wherein the second ion is selected from the group consisting of Mg 2++ and Ca 2++ .
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 23 words
The medical device of 16 , wherein the second ion is selected from the group consisting of Mg 2++ and Ca 2++ .
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 23 words
The medical device of 17 , wherein the first ion is selected from the group consisting of Ba 2++ and Zn 2++ .
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 23 words
The medical device of 17 , wherein the first ion is selected from the group consisting of Ba 2++ and Zn 2++ .
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 57 words
The medical device of claim 12 , wherein the first segment and the second segment comprise one or more polymers crosslinked with a high affinity ion and a low affinity ion, and the first segment has a higher concentration of high affinity ion crosslinks and a lower concentration of low affinity ion crosslinks than the second segment.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 42 words
The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the device includes a first segment comprising a crosslinkable polymer having ionic crosslinks susceptible to dissolution in vivo and a second segment comprising a crosslinkable polymer having non-ionic crosslinks susceptible to hydrolysis in vivo.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 29 words
The medical device of claim 20 , wherein the device includes break point in a relatively straight section of the device proximal to a curved section of the device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 16 words
The medical device of claim 1 , further comprising a segment comprising a non-dissolvable, non-disintegrable polymer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 13 words
The medical device of claim 22 wherein the non-dissolvable, non-disintegrable polymer is silicone.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 31 words
The medical device of claim 22 , wherein the segment comprising the non-dissolvable, non-disintegrable polymer is selected from the group consisting of a string, a mesh, a suture, and a braid.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 15 words
The medical device of claim 1 , further comprising a segment comprising a biodegradable polymer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 29 words
The medical device of claim 25 , wherein the biodegradable polymer is selected from the group consisting of the polymers of glycolic acid, ε-caprolactone, lactic acid and copolymers thereof.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 30 words
The medical device of claim 25 , wherein the segment comprising the biogradable polymer is selected from the group consisting of a string, a mesh, a suture, and a braid.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 43 words
The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of a stent, a catheter, a cannula, a plug, a constrictor, a bone anchor, a plate, a rod, a seed, a capsule, a sheet, and a tube.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 17 words
The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the device is a biliary, urinary, or vascular stent.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 14 words
The medical device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one pigtail end.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 14 words
The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the device is a tissue prosthesis.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 14 words
The medical device of claim 1 , further comprising suture material as a filler.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 14 words
The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the device is seeded with cells.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 12 words
The medical device of claim 1 , further comprising a radiopaque filler.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 31 words
The medical device of claim 34 , wherein the radiopaque filler is selected from the group consisting of bismuth sub-carbonate, barium sulfate, bismuth oxychloride, tungsten, bismuth trioxide, tantalum, and combinations thereof.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 36 words
The medical device of claim 1 , further comprising an additive for medical treatment selected from the group consisting of an antiseptic, an antibiotic, an anticoagulant, a contraceptive, a nucleic acid, a protein, and a medicine.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 36 words
The medical device of claim 36 , wherein the nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of a gene, a cDNA, a vector, an RNA molecule, an antisense molecule, a ribozyme, and a PNA molecule.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 23 words
The medical device of claim 36 , wherein the additive for medical treatment is added to only a portion of the medical device.

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Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2005-04-08 2005-10-08 2006-04-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2009-04-08 2009-10-08 2010-04-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2013-04-08 2013-10-08 2014-04-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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