Endoprostheses and methods of manufacture
A woven tubular endoprosthesis comprising means for locking the endoprosthesis in a deployed configuration is disclosed. The means for locking the endoprosthesis may comprise locking protrusions, notches, a chemical bond, a curable bond, or other mechanism. The woven fibers comprising the endoprosthesis may be hollow and comprise circumferentially oriented polymeric chains, and may be filled with a curable material. A method of treatment using an endoprosthesis according to the invention is also disclosed.
1. A method of manufacture of an endoprosthesis comprising the steps of:
providing a first fiber comprising a first material;
providing a second fiber comprising a second material that is chemically reactive with said first material;
covering said first fiber with a coating that is soluble in bodily fluids to form a first coated fiber;
forming a generally tubular structure from said first coated fiber and said second fiber comprising one or more points of intersection between said first coated fiber and said second fiber;
placing said tubular structure within a body lumen;
whereby said coating of said first coated fiber dissolves, exposing said first fiber to said second fiber, permitting said fibers to react chemically, thereby bonding said first fiber to said second at one or more of said one or more points of intersection.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first fiber comprises alginate.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said second fiber comprises calcium.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said coating comprises hydrophilic properties.