| abstract |
A biodegradable mesh-and-film stent for use in blood vessels is formed of a sheet of a composite mesh material formed of biodegradable high-strength polymer fibers bonded together with a second biodegradable adhesive polymer, and laminated on at least one side with a thin film of a third biodegradable polymer. The biodegradable mesh-and-film material is formed as a sheet and cut in a shape that can be used as a stent, such as a "belt-buckle" type shape, the ends of which can be joined in a contractible, expandable loop. In the method of making the biodegradable composite mesh-and-film stent, the composite mesh preferably is formed from a weave formed of high-strength biodegradable polymeric fibers, and a plurality of low-temperature melting biodegradable polymeric fibers. In an alternate embodiment, the high strength fibers are co-mingled with the low-temperature melting fibers. In another alternate embodiment, the high-strength fibers are coated with the low-temperature melting polymer. The composite mesh is covered on at least one side by a laminating film, and then is cut into the shape of the stent. |