Braided scaffolds

Abstract

A braided polymeric scaffold, made at least in part from a bioresorbable material is deployed on a catheter that uses a push-pull mechanism to deploy the scaffold. A drug coating is disposed on the scaffold. A plurality of scaffold segments on a catheter is also disclosed.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A medical device, comprising:
 a segmented braided scaffold including a plurality of braided scaffold segments configured to be deployed end to end in a vessel,   at least two of the braided scaffold segments are hybrid segments comprising non-degradable filaments and degradable filaments woven to form a tubular configuration,   wherein upon deployment from a collapsed state to a deployed state, the degradable filaments degrade and a radial strength or stiffness of the hybrid scaffold segments decreases with time after deployment, and   wherein when the biodegradable filaments are completely degraded, each hybrid segment comprises a residual stiffness provided by the non-degradable filaments.   
     
     
         14 . The medical device of  claim 13 , wherein selected hybrid segments have a higher radial strength or stiffness at deployment than other segments while having the same or different residual stiffness as the other segments. 
     
     
         15 . The medical device of  claim 13 , wherein a hybrid proximal end segment and a hybrid distal end segment of the scaffold have a higher radial strength or stiffness at deployment than middle segments while having the same or different residual radial strength or stiffness as the middle segments. 
     
     
         16 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The medical device of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a plurality of terminal ends corresponding to ends of filaments forming the braided scaffold at the proximal and/or distal terminal end, and   a tube connecting at least a first terminal end to a second terminal end.   
     
     
         22 . A medical device, comprising:
 a braided scaffold; and   a deployment device that holds and deploys the scaffold.   
     
     
         23 . The medical device of  claim 22 , further comprising a deployment mechanism comprising a handle portion. 
     
     
         24 . A medical device of  claim 22 , wherein the deployment device comprises an expandable anchor or cage that presents a stop or barrier when the anchor or cage is deployed, wherein the anchor or cage prevents or inhibits the braided scaffold from displacing distally of an intended deployment site in a vessel. 
     
     
         25 . The medical device of  claim 24 , further comprising a retrieval device for retrieving the anchor or cage. 
     
     
         26 . The medical device of  claim 24 , wherein the anchor has 2, 3, 4 or a plurality of arms, and each arm has one end affixed to a tube or guidewire and the other end extends outward when a radial restraint is withdrawn. 
     
     
         27 . A medical device, comprising:
 a catheter; and   a plurality of disconnected self-expanding scaffold segments arranged on the catheter, the plurality of segments including at least a first segment having a first ratio of fiber length to free-standing length (S/Z 1 ), and a second segment having a second ratio of fiber length to free-standing length (S/Z 2 ), wherein S/Z 1  is less than S/Z 2 .   
     
     
         28 . The medical device of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 a deployment mechanism and sheath containing first and second scaffold segments,   wherein the deployment mechanism is pre-arranged to remove the first and second segments from the sheath such that the first and second segments assume a pre-determined deployed length and deployed radius, and   wherein the first segment deployed radius is higher than, less than, or about equal to the second segment deployed radius, and/or the first segment deployed length is higher than, less than or about equal to the second segment deployed length.   
     
     
         29 . The medical device of  claim 27 , wherein the deployment mechanism is pre-arranged to remove the first and second segments from the sheaths such that the first segment deployed radius is about 5-10%, 15-20%, 20-30% or about 30-35% greater or less than the second segment deployed radius. 
     
     
         30 . The medical device of  claim 27 , wherein the deployment mechanism is pre-arranged to remove the first and second segments from the sheaths such that the first segment deployed length is about 5-10%, 15-20%, 20-30% or about 30-35% greater or less than the second segment deployed length, or equal to the deployed length. 
     
     
         31 . The medical device of  claim 27 , wherein the deployment mechanism is pre-arranged to remove the first and second segments from the sheaths such that the first segment supports a vessel at a first diameter with a substantially zero chronic outward force (COF) and the second segment supports a vessel at a second diameter with a substantially zero chronic outward force (COF) and the first diameter is greater than the second diameter. 
     
     
         32 . The medical device of  claim 27 , wherein the deployment mechanism is pre-arranged to remove the first and second segments from the sheaths such that the first segment supports a vessel at a first diameter with at least a portion of the support being provided by a chronic outward force (COF) and the second segment supports a vessel at a second diameter with a substantially zero chronic outward force (COF) and the first diameter is greater than, less than or equal to the second diameter. 
     
     
         33 . The medical device of  claim 27 , wherein the second segment has a total of m braids each having a cross-sectional area (A 2 ),
 wherein the first segment has a total of n braids each having a cross-sectional area (A 1 ), at least one of m is greater than n, and A 2  is greater than A 1 , and   the two segments when deployed and in response to a radially compressive force exert about the same force on the vessel walls.   
     
     
         34 . The medical device of  claim 27 , the deployment mechanism further including
 a gearing and/or threads for deploying the first and second scaffolds to a predetermined deployment length, wherein the first and second scaffolds are deployed to different radii at the predetermined length.   
     
     
         35 . The medical device of  claim 27 , the deployment mechanism further including a first member coupled to a sheath and a second member coupled to a pusher, the gearing and/or threads being disposed at a proximal handle portion of the catheter. 
     
     
         36 . The medical device of  claim 27 , further including means for adjusting a push/pull ratio for selectively deploying the first and second scaffolds and comprising the deployment mechanism. 
     
     
         37 . The medical device of  claim 27 , further including means for deploying the at least first and second scaffolds to have a different or about equal deployed length and/or deployed radius.