Biodegradable supporting device

Abstract

A biodegradable in vivo supporting device is disclosed. The in vivo supporting device comprises a biodegradable metal scaffold and a biodegradable polymer coating covering at least a portion of the biodegradable metal scaffold, wherein the biodegradable polymer coating has a degradation rate that is faster than the degradation rate of the biodegradable metal scaffold.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method for producing a biodegradable in vivo supporting device, comprising:
 (a) producing a biodegradable metal scaffold;   (b) coating said biodegradable metal scaffold with a first biodegradable polymer coating having a first degradable rate; and   (c) coating the biodegradable metal scaffold from step (b) with a second biodegradable polymer coating having a second degradable rate,   wherein said second degradable rate is faster than said first degradable rate.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said second biodegradable polymer coating comprises an agent that prevents or reduces the post-implantation hyperplastic response. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said biodegradable metal scaffold comprises an alloy comprising magnesium. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said biodegradable metal scaffold is made from a magnesium alloy having a magnesium content of at least 96 wt. %, a manganese content of at least 1 wt. %, and at least one metal from the rare earth metal group in the amount of at least 0.5 wt. %. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said biodegradable metal scaffold is made from a magnesium alloy having a magnesium content of 96-97.9 wt. %, a manganese content of 1.6-2 wt. %, and at least one metal from the rare earth metal group in the amount of 0.5-2 wt. %. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said biodegradable metal scaffold has a smaller weight percentage than the biodegradable polymer coating. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said biodegradable metal scaffold comprises metal struts, wherein said metal struts are covered by said first and second biodegradable polymer coating, wherein said coatings have one or more holes that allow direct contact of the metal strut with a body fluid when said supporting device is placed inside a body lumen. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said biodegradable metal scaffold comprises metal struts, and wherein said first and second biodegradable polymer coating partially covers said metal struts but does not cover openings between said struts. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said biodegradable metal scaffold comprises metal struts, and wherein said biodegradable polymer coating covers the exterior surface of said metal struts, including openings between said metal struts. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising a biodegradable polymer covering that covers the exterior surface of said metal scaffold. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said covering comprises an agent that prevents or reduces the post-implantation hyperplastic response. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said first and second biodegradable polymer coatings are permeable to body fluid. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said biodegradable metal scaffold constitutes less than 50 wt % of said supporting device. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said supporting device comprises magnesium as a minor component. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said biodegradable metal scaffold has a magnesium content that is less than 50 wt % of said supporting device. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said biodegradable metal scaffold comprises an alloy with magnesium as a minor constituent of said alloy. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said first biodegradable polymer coating, or said second biodegradable polymer coating, or both comprise a biodegradable polymer and metal particles. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said metal particles are selected from particles of iron, magnesium, tantalum, zinc and alloys thereof. 
     
     
         47 . A method for producing a biodegradable in vivo supporting device, comprising:
 (a) producing a biodegradable metal scaffold made from a magnesium alloy;   (b) coating said biodegradable metal scaffold with a first biodegradable polymer coating having a first degradable rate; and   (c) coating the biodegradable metal scaffold from step (b) with a second biodegradable polymer coating having a second degradable rate,   wherein said second degradable rate is faster than said first degradable rate and wherein the metal scaffold has a weight percentage that is less than 50% of the supporting device.