Medical devices

1. An expandable stent, comprising:

one or more polymer wires extending spirally in a first direction about a longitudinal axis of the expandable stent; and

one or more metal wires extending spirally in a second direction about the longitudinal axis, the second direction being counter to the first direction, wherein the one or more metal wires intersect the one or more polymer wires at a plurality of intersection points, the one or more metal wires only intersecting the one or more polymer wires such that the one or more metal wires do not form a closed current loop, wherein the one or more metal wires have an oval cross-sectional area.

2. The expandable stent of claim 1 , wherein the metal wire includes a shape memory material.

3. The expandable stent of claim 2 , wherein the shape memory material comprises a titanium alloy.

4. The expandable stent of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of polymer wires spirally extending along the first direction.

5. The stent of claim 4 , further comprising a wire comprising a shape memory material extending along the first direction.

6. The stent of claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of metal wires spirally extending along the second direction.

7. The expandable stent of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of polymer wires comprises four polymer wires.

8. The expandable stent of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of polymer wires comprises six polymer wires.

9. The expandable stent of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of polymer wires comprises eight polymer wires.

10. The expandable stent of claim 1 , wherein the polymer wire comprises polyethylene.

11. The expandable stent of claim 1 , wherein the polymer wire comprises high density polyethylene.

12. The expandable stent of claim 11 , wherein the polymer wire is treated with a plasma.

13. The expandable stent of claim 1 , wherein the polymer wire forms a first angle with the longitudinal axis and the metal wire forms a second angle with the longitudinal axis, the first being equal to the second.

14. The expandable stent of claim 1 , wherein the polymer wire forms a first angle with the longitudinal axis and the metal wire forms a second angle with the longitudinal axis, the first angle being different than the second angle.

15. The expandable stent of claim 14 , wherein the first angle is less than 35 degrees.

16. The expandable stent of claim 14 , wherein the second angle is between about 35 degrees and about 90 degrees.

17. The expandable stent of claim 14 , wherein the second angle is between about 60 degrees and about 85 degrees.

18. The expandable stent of claim 1 , wherein the metal wire is visible on a magnetic resonance image.

19. The expandable stent of claim 1 , further comprising a bioabsorbable material including a drug on the surface of the expandable stent.

20. The expandable stent of claim 19 , wherein the surface is an inner surface of the expandable stent.

21. The expandable stent of claim 19 , wherein the surface is an outer surface of the expandable stent.

22. The expandable stent of claim 1 , wherein the expendable stent is self expandable.

23. The expandable stent of claim 1 , wherein the polymer wire includes an aperture and the metal wire is positioned within the aperture.

24. The expandable stent of claim 1 , wherein the expandable stent is balloon expandable.

25. The expandable stent of claim 1 , wherein the polymer wire is arranged such that substantially no plastic deformation of the polymer wire occurs during expansion of the expandable stent and the metal wire is arranged to axially strengthen the expandable stent.

26. The expandable stent of claim 25 , wherein the metal wire is visible on a magnetic resonance image.

27. The expandable stent of claim 25 , wherein the expandable stent is self expandable.

28. The expandable stent of claim 25 , wherein the expandable stent is balloon expandable.

29. The expandable stent of claim 25 , wherein the metal wire comprises titanium.

30. The expandable stent of claim 25 , wherein the metal wire comprises a titanium alloy.

31. The expandable stent of claim 25 , wherein the polymer wire comprises polyethylene.

32. The expandable stent of claim 25 , wherein the polymer wire comprises high density polyethylene.

33. The expandable stent of claim 32 , wherein the polymer is treated with a plasma.

34. The expandable stent of claim 25 , wherein at least a portion of the polymer wire is coated with a plastic.

35. The expandable stent of claim 25 , wherein the polymer wire comprises a biodegradable polymer.

36. The expandable stent of claim 35 , further comprising a drug in the biodegradable polymer.

37. An expandable stent, comprising:

one or more polymer wires extending spirally in a first direction about a longitudinal axis of the expandable stent, wherein the polymer wire has a tensile strength of about 1.2 GPa; and

one or more metal wires extending spirally in a second direction about the longitudinal axis, the second direction being counter to the first direction, wherein the one or more metal wires intersect the one or more polymer wires at a plurality of intersection points, the one or more metal wires only intersecting the one or more polymer wires such that the one or more metal wires do not form a closed current loop.

38. An expandable stent, comprising:

one or more polymer wires extending spirally in a first direction about a longitudinal axis of the expandable stent, wherein the one or more polymer wires comprise high density polyethylene treated with a plasma; and

one or more metal wires extending spirally in a second direction about the longitudinal axis, the second direction being counter to the first direction, wherein the one or more metal wires intersect the one or more polymer wires at a plurality of intersection points, the one or more metal wires only intersecting the one or more polymer wires such that the one or more metal wires do not form a closed current loop.

39. The expandable stent of claim 38 , wherein the plasma comprises a cold oxygen plasma.

40. The expandable stent of claim 38 , wherein at least a portion of the polymer wire is coated with a plastic.

41. An expandable stent, comprising:

a plurality of polymer wires spirally extending along a first direction about a longitudinal axis of the expandable stent, the plurality of polymer wires includes an inner wire positioned on an inner surface of the expandable stent and an outer wire positioned on an outer surface of the expandable stent; and

one or more metal wires extending spirally in a second direction about the longitudinal axis, the second direction being counter to the first direction, wherein the one or more metal wires intersect the plurality of polymer wires at a plurality of intersection points, the one or more metal wires only intersecting the one or more polymer wires such that the one or more metal wires do not form a closed current loop.

42. The expandable stent of claim 41 , wherein the inner wire is fused to the outer wire.