Medical implant

Abstract

Disclosed is a self-expanding medical implant for placement within a lumen of a patient. The implant comprises a woven or non-woven structure having a substantially tubular configuration, and is designed to be low-profile such that it is deliverable with a small diameter catheter. The implant has a high recoverability and desired mechanical properties.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method of manufacturing a medical implant comprising at least one strand, the method comprising the step of:
 coating the at least one strand with a material having a molecular weight of between about 23 kDa and about 100 kDa, the material conformally contacting at least part of the at least one strand, wherein   (a) coating the at least one strand includes the steps of:
 dissolving poly (lactic acid-co-caprolactone) in a solvent to form a solution; 
 adding a diisocyanate crosslinker to the solution; 
 contacting the at least one strand with the solution; and 
 curing the solution on the at least one strand; and 
   (b) the solution does not comprise a catalyst.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the diisocyanate crosslinker is hexamethylene diisocyanate. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the poly (lactic acid-co-caprolactone) comprises about 50 weight percent of lactic acid and about 50 weight percent of caprolactone. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the solution comprises about 0.125 mL of the diisocyanate crosslinker to every 1.0 grams of poly (lactic acid-co-caprolactone). 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the diisocyanate crosslinker is hexamethylene diisocyanate. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the solution comprises about 19.875 mL of a solvent to every 1.0 grams of poly (lactic acid-co-caprolactone). 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the solvent comprises methylene chloride. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the medical implant comprises polymeric strands coated with the polymeric coat. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the strands comprise poly(lactic acid co-glycolic acid). 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the poly(lactic acid co-glycolic acid) comprises about 85 weight percent of lactic acid and about 15 weight percent of glycolic acid. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein poly (lactic acid-co-caprolactone) comprises at least three arms. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 26 , therein the coating increases a mass of the medical implant by about 24% and causes the medical implant to have a recovery in diameter of at least about 90% when being crimped. 
     
     
         38 . A medical implant manufactured according to the method of  claim 26 .