Patent · US Expired

Biodegradable stent

US5670161A · kind A · utility

567Cited by
4References
51Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 28, 1996
Grant dateSep 23, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 28, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61F2210/0004
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An expandable, biodegradable stent for use within a body lumen comprises a hollow tube made from a copolymer of L-lactide and .epsilon.-caprolactone that is not plastically expandable at normal body temperatures, and that is expandable using thermo-mechanical means at a temperature between about 38.degree.-55.degree. C. using a balloon catheter. The invention also relates to a method of making such a stent and to a method of deploying such a stent within the body.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.