Medical devices and methods of making the same
View Patent ↗Medical devices, for example, implantable devices such as endoprostheses, include a composite material having a polymer.
1. An endoprosthesis, comprising:
a tubular member including a polymer matrix encapsulating a plurality of fibers in the matrix, the fibers having a stiffness greater than the stiffness of the polymer, having lengths in the range of about 0.01 to about 10 millimeters, and being substantially oriented in a predetermined direction.
2. The endoprosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the fibers are oriented substantially circumferentially relative to a longitudinal axis of the tubular member.
3. The endoprosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the fibers comprise a metal.
4. The endoprosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the fibers are dispersed throughout substantially the entire matrix.
5. The endoprosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the fibers are formed in a configuration that enhances the radial strength of the tubular member.
6. The endoprosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the fibers are formed in a configuration that enhances the hoop strength of the tubular member.
7. The endoprosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the fibers have a first end that is larger than a second end.
8. The endoprosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the fibers are formed of a material selected from the group of gold, tantalum, platinum, and tungsten.
9. The endoprosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the fibers are visible by magnetic resonance imaging.
10. The endoprosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the fibers are invisible by magnetic resonance imaging.
11. The endoprosthesis of claim 1 , further comprising a magnetopaque material different than the fibers in the matrix.
12. The endoprosthesis of claim 1 , further comprising a drug-releasing layer on the tubular member.
13. The endoprosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the matrix comprises a drug.
14. The endoprosthesis of claim 1 , in the form of a balloon-expandable stent.
15. The endoprosthesis of claim 1 , wherein fibers have lengths in the range of about 1 to about 10 millimeters.
16. The endoprosthesis of claim 15 , wherein fibers have lengths in the range of about 1 to about 5 millimeters.
17. The endoprosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the fibers are oriented substantially longitudinally relative to the tubular member.
18. The endoprosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the fibers are oriented substantially radially relative to the tubular member.
19. The endoprosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the fibers comprise a polymer.
20. The endoprosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the fibers are formed on pre-selected portions of the tubular member.
21. The endoprosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the fibers extend helically around the tubular member.
22. The endoprosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the tubular member is formed of a plurality of polymeric layers.
23. The endoprosthesis of claim 22 , wherein the plurality of polymeric layers includes a layer having fibers oriented substantially longitudinally relative to the tubular members, and a layer having fibers oriented substantially radially relative to the tubular member.