Metallic implant which is degradable in vivo

Abstract

The invention relates to a medical implant made of a metallic material. After fulfilling its temporary support function, the implant is degraded by corrosion at a predetermined rate. Negative long-term effects are thus avoided.

1 . A vessel support or stent for widening and maintaining the lumen of narrowed vessels, said vessel support or stent being made from a metallic material degradable in vivo through corrosion, wherein the vessel support or stent has a substantially hollow tubular base body, and wherein the material is an alloy, the main constituent of which is magnesium. 
     
     
         2 . The vessel support or stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the material contains 79-97% of magnesium, 2-5% of aluminium, 0-12% of lithium and 1-4% of rare earths. 
     
     
         3 . The vessel support or stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the material contains 85-91% of magnesium, 2% of aluminium, 6-12% of lithium and 1% of rare earths. 
     
     
         4 . The vessel support or stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the material contains 86-97% of magnesium, 2-4% of aluminium, 0-8% of lithium and 1-2% of rare earths. 
     
     
         5 . The vessel support or stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the material is chosen in dependence on the composition of the material such that the process of degradation or corrosion in vivo is substantially completed in the range of from 5 days up to 6 months after implantation. 
     
     
         6 . The vessel support or stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the material is chosen in dependence on the composition of the material such that the process of degradation or corrosion in vivo is substantially completed in the range of from 6 months up to 10 years after implantation. 
     
     
         7 . The vessel support or stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the material contains, as secondary constituent, one or more elements from the group consisting of: Mn, Co, Ni, Cr, Cu, Pb, Sn, Th, Zr, Ag, Au, Pd, Pt, Re, Si, Ca, Li, Al, Zn, Fe, C, S. 
     
     
         8 . The vessel support or stent according to  claim 2 , wherein the rare earths are selected from the group consisting of cerium, lanthanum, neodymium and praseodymium. 
     
     
         9 . The vessel support or stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the material is between approximately 50 μm and approximately 100 μm. 
     
     
         10 . The vessel support or stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the material is chosen in dependence on the composition of the material such that the degradation or corrosion process in vivo is substantially completed between 2 weeks and 8 weeks after implantation. 
     
     
         11 . The vessel support or stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the material is chosen in dependence on the composition of the material such that the process of degradation or corrosion in vivo is substantially completed between 1 year and 5 years after implantation. 
     
     
         12 . The vessel support or stent according to  claim 1 , wherein the material contains 50-89% magnesium, 0-40% lithium, 0-5% iron, and less than 5% other metals or rare earths. 
     
     
         13 . A vessel support or stent for widening and maintaining the lumen of narrowed vessels, said vessel support or stent being made from a metallic material degradable in vivo through corrosion, wherein the vessel support or stent has a substantially hollow tubular base body, and wherein the material is an alloy containing 79-97% magnesium, 2-5% aluminium, 0-12% lithium and 1-4% rare earths. 
     
     
         14 . A vessel support or stent for widening and maintaining the lumen of narrowed vessels, said vessel support or stent being made from a metallic material degradable in vivo through corrosion, wherein the vessel support or stent has a substantially hollow tubular base body, and wherein the material is an alloy containing 79-97% magnesium, 2-5% aluminium, 0-12% lithium and 1-4% rare earths, and wherein the thickness of the material is chosen in dependence on the composition of the material such that the degradation or corrosion process in vivo is substantially completed between 5 days and 6 months after implantation. 
     
     
         15 . A vessel support or stent for widening and maintaining the lumen of narrowed vessels, said vessel support or stent being made from a metallic material degradable in vivo through corrosion, wherein the vessel support or stent has a substantially hollow tubular base body, and wherein the material is an alloy containing 79-97% magnesium, 2-5% aluminium, 0-12% lithium and 1-4% rare earths and wherein the thickness of the material is chosen in dependence on the composition of the material such that the degradation or corrosion process in vivo is substantially completed between 2 weeks and 8 weeks after implantation.