Bioabsorbable polymeric medical device
In embodiments there is described a cardiovascular tube-shaped lockable and expandable bioabsorbable scaffold having a low immunogenicity manufactured from a crystallizable bioabsorbable polymer composition or blend.
1. An expandable biodegradable tubular scaffold comprising:
a plurality of biodegradable first meanders forming an interconnected mesh, said mesh extending circumferentially about a longitudinal axis; wherein each of said biodegradable first meanders are manufactured from a racemic polymer which crystallizes under the strain of expansion of said tubular scaffold;
a plurality of biodegradable second meanders, each of said second meanders being separate from another, and each extending circumferentially about said longitudinal axis in a single plane, said second meanders being nest in, and interconnected to, said first meanders,
and a locking means, wherein the locking means is a two-part portion of one or different meandering strut elements located at proximal and distal ends of the scaffold and wherein the locking means comprises a cantilever arm hooking an oppositely shaped end piece of the scaffold.
2. The scaffold of claim 1 wherein said first meanders are generally parallel to said longitudinal axis.
3. The scaffold of claim 1 wherein said first meanders are generally diagonal to said longitudinal axis.
4. The scaffold of claim 1 wherein said first meanders are generally orthogonal to said longitudinal axis.
5. The scaffold of claim 1 wherein said first meanders are concentric about said longitudinal axis.
6. The scaffold of claim 1 wherein said second meanders are made of a material which crystallizes when said tube is in its expanded state, but does not substantially crystallize in its unexpanded state.
7. The scaffold of claim 1 wherein said first meanders form a strut pattern that is sinusoidal when said tube is in an expanded form.
8. The scaffold of claim 7 wherein said second meanders form a strut pattern that is substantially non-sinusoidal when said tube is in an expanded form.
9. The scaffold of claim 1 wherein said first meanders form a strut pattern that extends from said proximal open end to said distal open end of said tube.
10. The scaffold of claim 9 wherein said second meanders form a strut pattern that is found at said proximal open end and said distal open end.
11. The scaffold of claim 10 wherein said second meanders form a strut pattern that is further found between said proximal open end and said distal open end.
12. The scaffold of claim 9 wherein said second meanders form a pattern that is found between said proximal open end and said distal open end but not at the proximal open end or said distal open end.