Composite stent having multi-axial flexibility and method of manufacture thereof

1. A bioabsorbable composite stent structure, comprising:

bioabsorbable polymeric ring structures which retain a molecular weight and mechanical strength of a starting substrate, the ring structures having a formed first diameter and being radially compressible to a smaller second diameter and re-expandable to the first diameter, wherein the ring structures are separated from one another and comprise a base polymeric layer;

one or more interconnecting struts which extend between and couple adjacent ring structures, wherein the interconnecting struts each has a width which is less than a circumference of one of the ring structures,

wherein the interconnecting struts are formed from a polymer blend or co-polymer of poly-L-lactide (PLLA) and an elastomeric polymer,

wherein the adjacent ring structures are axially and rotationally movable relative to one another via the interconnecting struts, and

wherein the one or more interconnecting struts are bioabsorbable.

2. The stent structure of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric polymer is polycaprolactone (PCL).

3. The stent structure of claim 2 , wherein the PCL is 1% to 10% of the polymer blend or co-polymer.

4. The stent structure of claim 2 , wherein the PCL is 1% to 50% of the polymer blend or co-polymer.

5. The stent structure of claim 1 , wherein the polymer blend or co-polymer has a glass transition temperature between 50° C. and 65° C.

6. The stent structure of claim 1 , wherein the ring structures are spaced closer to one another along a first portion than along a second portion of the stent structure.

7. The stent structure of claim 1 , wherein a terminal ring structure is relatively more flexible than a remainder of the ring structures.

8. The stent structure of claim 1 , wherein the base polymeric layer is a bioabsorbable polymeric substrate formed via a dip-coating process.

9. A bioabsorbable composite stent structure, comprising:

bioabsorbable polymeric ring structures which retain a molecular weight and mechanical strength of a starting substrate, the ring structures having a formed first diameter and being radially compressible to a smaller second diameter and re-expandable to the first diameter, wherein the ring structures are separated from one another and comprise a base polymeric layer;

a plurality of interconnecting struts which extend between and couple adjacent ring structures, wherein the interconnecting struts each has a width which is less than a circumference of one of the ring structures,

wherein the interconnecting struts are formed from a polymer blend or co-polymer of poly-L-lactide (PLLA) and an elastomeric polymer,

wherein the plurality of interconnecting struts are positioned along a length of the stent structure in a circumferentially alternating manner between immediately adjacent ring structures,

wherein the ring structures are spaced closer to one another along a first portion than along a second portion of the stent structure, and

wherein the one or more interconnecting struts are bioabsorbable.

10. The stent structure of claim 9 , wherein the elastomeric polymer is polycaprolactone (PCL).

11. The stent structure of claim 10 , wherein the PCL is 1% to 10% of the polymer blend or co-polymer.

12. The stent structure of claim 10 , wherein the PCL is 1% to 50% of the polymer blend or co-polymer.

13. The stent structure of claim 9 , wherein the polymer blend or co-polymer has a glass transition temperature between 50° C. and 65° C.

14. The stent structure of claim 9 , wherein the base polymeric layer is a bioabsorbable polymeric substrate formed via a dip-coating process.

15. A bioabsorbable composite stent structure, comprising:

bioabsorbable polymeric ring structures which retain a molecular weight and mechanical strength of a starting substrate, the ring structures having a formed first diameter and being radially compressible to a smaller second diameter and re-expandable to the first diameter, wherein the ring structures are separated from one another and comprise a base polymeric layer;

one or more interconnecting struts which extend between and couple adjacent ring structures, wherein the interconnecting struts each has a width which is less than a circumference of one of the ring structures,

wherein the interconnecting struts are formed from a polymer blend or co-polymer of poly-L-lactide (PLLA) and an elastomeric polymer,

wherein the one or more interconnecting struts is more elastic than the ring structures,

wherein a terminal ring structure is relatively more flexible than a remainder of the ring structures, and

wherein the one or more interconnecting struts are bioabsorbable.

16. The stent structure of claim 15 , wherein the elastomeric polymer is polycaprolactone (PCL).

17. The stent structure of claim 16 , wherein the PCL is 1% to 10% of the polymer blend or co-polymer.

18. The stent structure of claim 16 , wherein the PCL is 1% to 50% of the polymer blend or co-polymer.

19. The stent structure of claim 15 , wherein the polymer blend or co-polymer has a glass transition temperature between 50° C. and 65° C.

20. The stent structure of claim 15 , wherein the base polymeric layer is a bioabsorbable polymeric substrate formed via a dip-coating process.