Bioabsorbable Polymeric Medical Device

Abstract

In embodiments there is described a cardiovascular tube-shaped lockable and expandable bioabsorbable scaffold having a low immunogenicity manufactured from a crystallizable bioabsorbable polymer composition or blend.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bioabsorbable and flexible scaffold circumferential about a longitudinal axis so as to form a tube, said tube having a proximal open end and a distal open end, and being expandable from an unexpanded form to an expanded form, and being crimpable, said scaffold having a patterned shape in expanded form comprising:
 a) a plurality of first meandering strut patterns, each of said first meandering strut pattern being interconnected to one another to form an interconnected mesh pattern circumferential about said longitudinal axis, and   b) at least two second strut patterns nested within said interconnected mesh pattern, each of said second strut patterns comprising a hoop circumferential about said longitudinal axis, said hoop having an inner surface proximal to said longitudinal axis and an outer surface distal to said longitudinal axis, said hoop inner and outer surfaces about their circumferences being orthogonal to said longitudinal axis and within substantially the same plane.   
     
     
         2 . The scaffold of  claim 1 , wherein said first meandering strut patterns are generally parallel to said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The scaffold of  claim 1 , wherein said first meandering strut patterns are generally diagonal to said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         4 . The scaffold of  claim 1 , wherein said first meandering strut patterns are generally orthogonal to said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         5 . The scaffold of  claim 1 , wherein said first meandering strut patterns are concentric about said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . The scaffold of  claim 1 , wherein said second strut patterns are made of a material which substantially crystallizes when said tube is in its expanded state, but does not substantially crystallize in its unexpanded state. 
     
     
         7 . The scaffold of  claim 1 , wherein said second strut patterns include at least one hoop a through-void. 
     
     
         8 . The scaffold of  claim 7 , wherein said through-void is configured to permit the radius of said at least one hoop to be expanded when said at least one hoop is subject to an expanding force which exceeds its nominal expanded state but does not result in hoop failure. 
     
     
         9 . The scaffold of  claim 1 , wherein each of said first meandering strut patterns is sinusoidal. 
     
     
         10 . The scaffold of  claim 9 , wherein each of said second strut patterns is substantially non-sinusoidal. 
     
     
         11 . The scaffold of  claim 1 , wherein each of said first meandering strut patterns extends from said proximal open end to said distal open end of said tube. 
     
     
         12 . The scaffold of  claim 11 , wherein each of said second strut patterns is found at said proximal open end and said distal open end. 
     
     
         13 . The scaffold of  claim 12 , wherein each of said second strut patterns is further found between said proximal open end and said distal open end. 
     
     
         14 . The scaffold of  claim 11 , wherein each of said second strut patterns is found between said proximal open end and said distal open end but not at the proximal open end or distal open end. 
     
     
         15 . The scaffold of  claim 11 , wherein said second strut pattern is found at least at one of said proximal open end or said distal open end. 
     
     
         16 . A stent having an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration; an outer tubular surface and an inner tubular surface, said stent comprising:
 a plurality of biodegradable, paired, separate circumferential bands having a pattern of distinct undulations in an unexpanded configuration and substantially no undulations in an expanded configuration, said undulations of said biodegradable, paired, separate circumferential bands in said stent in an unexpanded state being incorporated into a substantially planar ring in an expanded state; and   a plurality of biodegradable interconnection structures spanning between each pair of circumferential bands and connected to multiple points on each band of said paired bands.