Endoprosthesis devices including biostable and bioabsorable regions

1. An endoprosthesis comprising:

an expandable tubular framework having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough, the expandable tubular framework including a plurality of interconnected biostable struts;

the expandable tubular framework having a proximal region extending distally from the proximal end to an intermediate location and a distal region extending proximally from the distal end to the intermediate location;

wherein the distal region of the expandable tubular framework is more flexible than the proximal region;

wherein the proximal region of the expandable tubular framework includes a bioabsorbable material disposed on the interconnected biostable struts and the distal region of the expandable tubular framework is devoid of a bioabsorbable material;

wherein the proximal region of the expandable tubular framework includes a bioabsorbable tubular structure disposed around the interconnected biostable struts and the distal region of the expandable tubular framework is devoid of the bioabsorbable tubular structure; and

wherein the expandable tubular framework has a first outer diameter in the proximal region and a second diameter in the distal region, the first diameter being less than the second diameter.

2. The endoprosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the bioabsorbable tubular structure has an outer diameter approximately equal to the second diameter.

3. An endoprosthesis comprising:

an expandable tubular framework having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough, the expandable tubular framework including a plurality of interconnected biostable struts;

the expandable tubular framework having a proximal region extending distally from the proximal end to an intermediate location and a distal region extending proximally from the distal end to the intermediate location;

wherein the distal region of the expandable tubular framework is more flexible than the proximal region;

wherein the proximal region of the expandable tubular framework includes a bioabsorbable material disposed on the interconnected biostable struts and the distal region of the expandable tubular framework is devoid of a bioabsorbable material; and

wherein the proximal region of the expandable tubular framework includes a bioabsorbable material disposed in a groove formed in the interconnected biostable struts and the distal region of the expandable tubular framework is devoid of the bioabsorbable material.

4. An endoprosthesis comprising:

an expandable tubular framework having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough, the expandable tubular framework including a plurality of interconnected biostable struts;

the expandable tubular framework having a proximal region extending distally from the proximal end to an intermediate location and a distal region extending proximally from the distal end to the intermediate location;

wherein the distal region of the expandable tubular framework is more flexible than the proximal region;

wherein the proximal region of the expandable tubular framework includes a bioabsorbable material disposed on the interconnected biostable struts and the distal region of the expandable tubular framework is devoid of a bioabsorbable material; and

wherein the interconnected biostable struts have a first thickness in the proximal region and the interconnected biostable struts have a second thickness in the distal region, wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.

5. The endoprosthesis of claim 4 , wherein the proximal region of the expandable tubular framework includes a bioabsorbable material disposed on the interconnected biostable struts.

6. An endoprosthesis comprising:

an expandable tubular framework having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough, the expandable tubular framework including a plurality of interconnected biostable struts;

the expandable tubular framework having a proximal region extending distally from the proximal end to an intermediate location and a distal region extending proximally from the distal end to the intermediate location;

wherein the distal region of the expandable tubular framework is more flexible than the proximal region;

wherein the proximal region of the expandable tubular framework includes a bioabsorbable material disposed on the interconnected biostable struts and the distal region of the expandable tubular framework is devoid of a bioabsorbable material; and

wherein the interconnected biostable struts have a first width in the proximal region and the interconnected biostable struts have a second width in the distal region, wherein the first width is greater than the second width.

7. The endoprosthesis of claim 6 , wherein the proximal region of the expandable tubular framework includes a bioabsorbable material disposed on the interconnected biostable struts.

8. An endoprosthesis comprising:

an expandable tubular framework having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough, the expandable tubular framework including a plurality of interconnected biostable struts;

the expandable tubular framework having a proximal region extending distally from the proximal end to an intermediate location and a distal region extending proximally from the distal end to the intermediate location;

wherein the distal region of the expandable tubular framework is more flexible than the proximal region;

wherein the proximal region of the expandable tubular framework includes a bioabsorbable material disposed on the interconnected biostable struts and the distal region of the expandable tubular framework is devoid of a bioabsorbable material; and

wherein the interconnected biostable struts have a continuously changing thickness from the proximal region to the distal region, wherein a thickness of the interconnected biostable struts at the proximal end of the expandable tubular framework is greater than a thickness of the interconnected biostable struts at a distal end of the expandable tubular framework.

9. An endoprosthesis comprising:

an expandable tubular framework having a first end, a second end, and a lumen extending therethrough, the expandable tubular framework including a plurality of interconnected bioabsorbable struts;

at least one biostable wire extending generally longitudinally along the expandable tubular framework;

wherein at least one biostable wire is configured to provide longitudinal support to a vessel wall after the expandable tubular framework is absorbed.

10. The endoprosthesis of claim 9 , wherein the at least one biostable wire includes a plurality of biostable wires circumferentially arranged around a circumference of the expandable tubular framework.

11. The endoprosthesis of claim 10 , further comprising a biostable ring attached to the plurality of biostable wires.

12. The endoprosthesis of claim 10 , wherein a first end of the plurality of biostable wires is attached to a first biostable ring and a second end of the plurality of biostable wires is attached to a second biostable ring.

13. A method of implanting an endoprosthesis in a coronary artery proximate an aortic ostium, the method comprising:

positioning the endoprosthesis in the coronary artery with a proximal end of the endoprosthesis proximate the aortic ostium, the endoprosthesis including an expandable tubular framework and having a lumen extending therethrough from the proximal end to a distal end, the expandable tubular framework including a plurality of interconnected biostable struts and a bioabsorbable material disposed on at least a portion of the interconnected biostable struts; and

expanding the expandable tubular framework to exert a radially outward force against the coronary artery;

wherein a proximal region of the endoprosthesis proximate the proximal end has an initial stiffness when expanded greater than an initial stiffness of a distal region of the endoprosthesis; and

wherein the proximal region is configured to have a reduced stiffness less than the initial stiffness over a period of time as the bioabsorbable material is absorbed.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the stiffness of the proximal region is reduced at a greater rate than the stiffness of the distal region over the period of time.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the proximal region of the expandable tubular framework includes the bioabsorbable material and the distal region of the expandable tubular framework is devoid of a bioabsorbable material, wherein the bioabsorbable material is absorbed over a period of time to reduce the difference in stiffness of the proximal portion relative to the stiffness of the distal portion.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the bioabsorbable material is disposed in a groove formed in the interconnected biostable struts in the proximal region.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the interconnected biostable struts have a continuously changing thickness from the proximal region to the distal region, wherein a thickness of the interconnected biostable struts at the proximal end of the expandable tubular framework is greater than a thickness of the interconnected biostable struts at a distal end of the expandable tubular framework.