United States Patent:  6,060,534

Assignee:  Scimed Life Systems, Inc. (Maple Grove, MN)

Filed:  July 11, 1996

Shaped medical devices, e.g. stents, having improved mechanical properties and structural integrity are disclosed. The devices comprise shaped polymeric hydrogels which are both ionically and non-ionically crosslinked and which exhibit improved structural integrity after selective removal of the crosslinking ions. Process for making such devices are also disclosed wherein an ionically crosslinkable polymer is both ionically and non-ionically crosslinked to form a shaped medical device. When implanted in the body, selective in-vivo stripping of the crosslinking ions produces a softer, more flexible implant having improved structural integrity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a means of boosting the mechanical performance of shaped medical devices comprising polymer hydrogels, such as stents, so that they may be more easily inserted into the body, and at the same time provides a means to soften such devices in-vivo while retaining the structural integrity of the device.

The invention provides a process for improving the mechanical properties and structural integrity of a shaped medical device comprising a crosslinked polymeric hydrogel, said process comprising subjecting an ionically crosslinkable polymer composition to crosslinking conditions such that both ionic and non-ionic crosslinks are formed resulting in a polymeric hydrogel, wherein a medical device of improved structural integrity is obtained upon selective removal of said crosslinking ions from said polymeric hydrogel.

In addition, the invention also provides a process for improving the mechanical properties and structural integrity of a shaped medical device comprising a polymeric hydrogel, said process comprising:

a) providing a crosslinked polymeric hydrogel composition containing a non-ionic crosslink structure, said hydrogel polymer characterized as being ionically crosslinkable and having a primary shape;

b) imparting a secondary shape to said hydrogel polymer composition; and

c) subjecting said hydrogel polymer to ionic crosslinking conditions to ionically crosslink said hydrogel polymer while retaining said secondary shape.

A medical device substantially conforming to the primary shape of said hydrogel is obtained upon selective removal of the crosslinking ions from said crosslinked polymeric hydrogel, such as by removal of said ions after the device is implanted into the body.

The invention also provides a shaped medical device having improved mechanical properties comprising a cross-linked polymeric hydrogel, said hydrogel containing both an ionic and a non-ionic crosslink structure. The device is characterized by improved structural integrity after selective removal of said ionic crosslinking ions as compared with an otherwise identical device containing only an ionic structure.

The invention further provides a medical procedure comprising insertion of the above-described medical device into a human or animal body to form an implant, followed by the selective removal of at least a portion of the crosslinking ions from the implant in-vivo to soften the implant. Where the implant is later surgically removed, it may be once again subjected to ionic crosslinking conditions to ionically re-crosslink the implant prior to removal from the body.

Claim 1 of 24 Claims

1. A method for forming a shaped medical device, comprising:

exposing a polymer composition to crosslinking conditions such that both ionic and non-ionic crosslinks are formed, thereby forming a crosslinked hydrogel;

shaping the crosslinked hydrogel to form a shaped, crosslinked hydrogel; and

selectively removing one or more ionic crosslinks from the shaped, crosslinked hydrogel.

____________________________________________
If you want to learn more about this patent, please go directly to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Web site to access the full patent.