Bioabsorbable device having composite structure for accelerating degradation

1. A medical device formed from a first biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material and a second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material, the medical device comprising: a structure made of the second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material, the structure having the first biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material encapsulating a degradation additive incorporated into the second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material; wherein the first biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material has a degradation rate that is faster than the degradation rate of the second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material, the structure experiencing a period of accelerated degradation upon release of the degradation additive following sufficient degradation of the first biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material.

2. The medical device according to claim 1 , wherein the time to complete degradation for the second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material is between 3 months and 48 months.

3. The medical device according to claim 2 , wherein the time to complete degradation for the first biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material is between 1 day and 3 months.

4. The medical device according to claim 3 , wherein the second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material is selected from the group consisting of polylactide based polymers, polyglycolide based polymers, poly(α-hydroxy esters), poly(oxaesters), poly(oxaamides), poly(DTH carbonates), poly(arylates), poly(imino-carbonates), phosphorous containing polymers, poly(phosphoesters), poly(phosphazenes), poly(ethylene glycol) based block copolymers, polyalkanoates, poly(hydroxyvalerate) (HV) co-polymers, PLA/PGA copolymers (95/5, 85/15), PLA-PCL copolymers that have lower absorption time than PLLA, and copolymers and blends of the foregoing.

5. The medical device according to claim 3 , wherein the second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material is selected from the group consisting of poly(lactic acid), poly(glycolic acid), poly(caprolactone), poly(p-dioxanone), poly(trimethylene carbonate), PLLA, poly(lactide/glycolide), poly(glycolide/caprolactone) (75/25), poly(glycolide/trimethylene carbonate), tyrosine derived poly amino acid, PEG-PLA, PEG-poly(propylene glycol), PEG-poly(butylene terephthalate), (α.-malic acid), poly(ester amide), poly(hydroxybutyrate) (HB) and copolymers and blends of the foregoing.

6. The medical device according to claim 4 , wherein the first biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material is selected from the group consisting of poly(α-hydroxy esters), polyanhydrides, polyorthoesters (diketene acetal based polymers), phosphorous containing polymers, PGA/PLA (90/10), PGAIPCL (75/25, 50/50, 65/35), poly(p-dioxanone) and their derivatives that have longer absorption time than PGA, poly(ethylene glycol), citrate esters, and copolymers and blends of the foregoing.

7. The medical device according to claim 4 , wherein the first biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material is selected from the group consisting of poly(glycolic acid) (PGA), poly(fumaric acid-sebacic acid), poly(carboxyphenoxy hexane-sebacic acid), poly(imidesebacic acid) (50-50), poly(imide-carboxyphenoxy hexane) (33-67), tyrosine derived poly amino acid, PGAIPLA (90/10), PGAIPCL (75/25, 50/50, 65/35), poly(p-dioxanone), poly(ethylene glycol) and copolymers and blends of the foregoing.

8. The medical device according to claim 1 , wherein the degradation additive is selected from the group consisting of lipase-type enzymes, microorganism-produced enzymes, Amycolatopsis type enzymes, and PHB depolymerases.

9. The medical device according to claim 1 , wherein the degradation additive is selected from the group consisting of Proteinase K, Bromelain, R delemer lipase, Rhizopus arrhizus lipase and Pseudomonase lipase.

10. The medical device according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one further additive together with one or both of the first biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material and the second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material and wherein the at least one further additive comprises a buffering agent selected from the group consisting of bioactive glasses, ceramics, inorganic basic fillers, carbonated calcium phosphates, acid/base titrating compounds and amine monomers.

11. The medical device according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one further additive together with one or both of the first biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material and the second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material and wherein the at least one further additive comprises a buffering agent selected from the group consisting of calcium phosphate, inorganic coral, caffeine, calcium hydroxyapatite, carbonated apatite, tricalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium hydroxide, and lactate dehydrogenase.

12. The medical device according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one further additive together with one or both of the first biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material and the second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material and wherein the at least one further additive comprises a radiopaque agent selected from the group consisting of inorganic fillers, bismuth oxides, iodine compounds, metal powders including tantalum, tungsten or gold, and metal alloys having gold, platinum, iridium, palladium, rhodium or a combination thereof.

13. The medical device according to claim 3 , wherein the medical device comprises a stent.