BIODEGRADABLE ENDOPROSTHESIS AND METHOD FOR FABRICATION

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide medical devices and a method for their fabrication.SOLUTION: A biodegradable endoprosthesis is formed from an amorphous polymer having desirable biodegradation characteristics. The strength of such an amorphous polymer is enhanced by annealing for increasing a degree of crystallinity without substantially increasing biodegradation time. The degree of crystallinity of a high amorphous polymer is 10% or less prior to modification. After modification, the degree of crystallinity is usually increased by at least 20% of the original degree of crystallinity of the amorphous material, preferably by at least 100% of the original degree of crystallinity of the amorphous material, more preferably by at least 1000% of the original degree of crystallinity of the amorphous material. Currently, the preferable polymer material has the degree of crystallinity in the range of 10% to 20% after modification as described in the specification.