IMPLANTABLE SCAFFOLDS FOR TREATMENT OF SINUSITIS

1 . A scaffold adapted for delivery to a human sinus comprising:

(a) a tubular scaffold comprising a plurality of braided polymeric strands that comprise a first biodegradable polymer material and

(b) a conformal coating over the tubular scaffold that comprises a crosslinked biodegradable elastomer.

2 . The scaffold of claim 1 , wherein the first biodegradable polymer material comprises poly(lactide-co-glycolide).

3 . The scaffold of claim 1 , wherein the scaffold comprises between 8 and 64 polymeric strands.

4 . The scaffold of claim 1 , wherein the braided polymeric strands cross each other at a braid angle ranging from 80° to 140°.

5 . The scaffold of claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable elastomer material comprises poly(lactide-co-caprolactone).

6 . The scaffold of claim 5 , wherein the biodegradable elastomer material comprises poly(lactide-co-caprolactone) having molar percentage of lactide ranging from 30 to 50% and a molar percentage of caprolactone ranging from 50 to 70%.

7 . The scaffold of claim 5 , wherein the biodegradable elastomer material comprises urethane and/or urea crosslinks.

8 . The scaffold of claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable elastomer material is formed by reacting a branched poly(lactide-co-caprolactone) polyol with a diisocyanate crosslinking agent.

9 . The scaffold of claim 8 , wherein the branched poly(lactide-co-caprolactone) polyol is reacted with the diisocyanate crosslinking agent in the presence of a 1-substitued C8-C18 alcohol.

10 . The scaffold of claim 1 , further comprising a therapeutic-agent-containing layer comprising a therapeutic agent and a second biodegradable polymer material which may be the same as or different from the first biodegradable polymer material.

11 . The scaffold of claim 10 , wherein the second biodegradable polymer material comprises poly(lactide-co-caprolactone).

12 . The scaffold of claim 11 , wherein the second biodegradable polymer material comprises poly(lactide-co-caprolactone) having molar percentage of lactide ranging from 70 to 95% and a molar percentage of caprolactone ranging from 5 to 30%.

13 . The scaffold of claim 11 , wherein the therapeutic agent is a steroid.

14 . The scaffold of claim 13 , wherein the steroid is mometasone furoate.

15 . The scaffold of claim 1 , further comprising a topcoat layer comprising a third biodegradable polymer material disposed over the therapeutic-agent-containing layer, wherein the third biodegradable polymer material may be the same as or different from the first biodegradable polymer material and wherein the third biodegradable polymer material may be the same as or different from the second biodegradable polymer material.

16 . The scaffold of claim 1 , wherein the scaffold has an unconstrained diameter selected from (a) an unconstrained diameter ranging from 6 to 10 mm, (b) an unconstrained diameter ranging from 10 to 15 mm, (c) an unconstrained diameter ranging from 15 to 20 mm, and (d) an unconstrained diameter ranging from 20 to 60 mm.

17 . The scaffold of claim 1 , wherein after holding the tubular scaffold in a 34° C., 80% relative humidity environment for 10 weeks in a compressed state between two parallel flat plates such that the axis of the tubular scaffold is parallel to the parallel flat plates and such that the tubular scaffold is compressed between the parallel flat plates to a point where a first distance between the parallel flat plates is 17% of the initial unconstrained diameter such that the tubular scaffold has a first minimum width measured perpendicular to the axis that is equal to the first distance, and wherein after removal the tubular scaffold from the compressed state for six hours, the minimum width of the tubular scaffold recovers to a second minimum width measured perpendicular to the axis that is at least 250% of the first minimum width.

18 . The scaffold of claim 1 , wherein after holding the tubular scaffold in a 34° C., 80% relative humidity environment for 10 weeks in a compressed state between two parallel flat plates such that the axis of the tubular scaffold is parallel to the parallel flat plates and such that the tubular scaffold is compressed between the parallel flat plates to a point where a first distance between the parallel flat plates is 8.5% of the initial unconstrained diameter such that the tubular scaffold has a first minimum width measured perpendicular to the axis that is equal to the first distance, and wherein after removal the tubular scaffold from the compressed state for six hours, the minimum width of the tubular scaffold recovers to a second minimum width measured perpendicular to the axis that is at least 450% of the first minimum width.