Medical Devices

Abstract

Expandable stents and methods of using expandable stent within a body are described.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . An expandable stent comprising:
 a polymer wire extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the expandable stent; and   
       a metal wire extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the metal wire contacting the polymer wire. 
     
     
         28 . The expandable stent of  claim 27 , wherein the metal wire has a sinusoidal shape. 
     
     
         29 . The expandable stent of  claim 28 , wherein the metal wire is formed in to a C shape. 
     
     
         30 . The expandable stent of  claim 28 , wherein the metal wire is formed in to a ring. 
     
     
         31 . The expandable stent of  claim 27 , further comprising a plurality of metal wires extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         32 . The expandable stent of  claim 31 , wherein the plurality of metal wires include a first metal wire comprising a first metal and a second metal wire comprising a second metal, wherein the first metal differs from the second metal. 
     
     
         33 . The expandable stent of  claim 27 , wherein the metal wire is visible on a magnetic resonance image. 
     
     
         34 . The expandable stent of  claim 27 , wherein the polymer wire comprises polyethylene. 
     
     
         35 . The expandable stent of  claim 34 , wherein the polymer wire comprises high density polyethylene. 
     
     
         36 . The expandable stent of  claim 35 , wherein the polymer wire is treated with a plasma. 
     
     
         37 . The expandable stent of  claim 36 , wherein at least a portion of the polymer wire is coated with a plastic. 
     
     
         38 . The expandable stent of  claim 27 , wherein the polymer wire comprises a biodegradable polymer. 
     
     
         39 . The expandable stent of  claim 38 , wherein the polymer wire includes a drug within the biodegradable polymer. 
     
     
         40 . The expandable stent of  claim 27 , further comprising a plurality polymer wires extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         41 . The expandable stent of  claim 40 , wherein the plurality of polymer wires includes an inner wire positioned on an inner surface of the expandable stent and an outer wire positioned on an outer surface of the expandable stent. 
     
     
         42 . The expandable stent of  claim 41 , wherein the inner wire is fused to the outer wire. 
     
     
         43 . The expandable stent of  claim 40 , wherein the plurality of polymer wires comprises four polymer wires. 
     
     
         44 . The expandable stent of  claim 40 , wherein the plurality of polymer wires comprises six polymer wires. 
     
     
         45 . The expandable stent of  claim 40 , wherein the plurality of polymer wires comprises eight polymer wires. 
     
     
         46 . The expandable stent of  claim 27 , wherein the polymer wire includes an aperture and the metal wire is positioned within the aperture. 
     
     
         47 . The expandable stent of  claim 27 , wherein the expandable stent is balloon expandable. 
     
     
         48 - 75 . (canceled)