Stent

Abstract

A bioabsorable stent is disclosed. The stent is made of a polymer and/or non-polymer material and has an elongated body having a proximate end, a distal end, and at least one open channel formed on the exterior surface of the elongated body to provide fluid communication between the proximal end and the distal end. Also disclosed is a bioabsorable stent having an elongated center rod having a proximate end and a distal end and a plurality of leaflets extending outward from the center rod and forming channels between two neighboring leaflets to provide fluid communication between the proximal end and the distal end.

1 . A stent comprising:
 an elongated body having a proximate end, a distal end, and at least one open channel formed on the exterior surface of said body to provide fluid communication between said proximal end and said distal end,   wherein said elongated body is made from a non-polymer material.   
     
     
         2 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one channel is a sinusoidal channel. 
     
     
         3 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein said elongated body comprises a plurality of channels on the exterior surface. 
     
     
         4 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein said distal end and said proximate end have different diameters. 
     
     
         5 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein said elongated body has a sinusoidal shape. 
     
     
         6 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein said body further comprising an anchoring device. 
     
     
         7 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein said body comprises a center lumen. 
     
     
         8  The stent of  claim 7 , wherein the center lumen comprises a sinusoidal shape 
     
     
         9 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein said body further comprises a biological agent. 
     
     
         10 . The stent of  claim 9 , wherein said biological agent is selected from the group consisting of chemotherapeutic agents, antimicrobial agents and gene transfer agents. 
     
     
         11 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein said channel is formed by compressible channel walls that can be compressed against each other in a compressed state to reduce the diameter of said stent. 
     
     
         12 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein said stent has a pre-implantation diameter D pre  and is in situ expandable upon absorption of a body fluid to a post-implantation diameter D post , wherein D post  is greater than D pre . 
     
     
         13 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein said non-polymer material is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, cobalt alloys, titanium alloys, tantalum, niobium, tungsten, molybdenum and nitinol. 
     
     
         14 . A stent comprising:
 an elongated body having a proximate end, a distal end, and at least one sinusoidal channel on an exterior surface of said body to provide fluid communication between said proximal end and said distal end,   wherein said distal end and said proximate end have different diameters.   
     
     
         15 . The stent of  claim 14 , wherein said elongate body comprises a non-polymer material is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, cobalt alloys, titanium alloys, tantalum, niobium, tungsten, molybdenum and nitinol. 
     
     
         16 . The stent of  claim 14 , wherein said at least one sinusoidal channel is formed between collapsible channel walls. 
     
     
         17 . The stent of  claim 14 , wherein said elongate body further comprises a center lumen. 
     
     
         18 . A stent comprising:
 an elongated center rod having a proximate end and a distal end; and a plurality of leaflets extending outward from said center rod and forming channels between two neighboring leaflets to provide fluid communication between said proximal end and said distal end,   wherein said center rod and said leaflets comprise a non-polymer material is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, cobalt alloys, titanium alloys, tantalum, niobium, tungsten, molybdenum and nitinol.   
     
     
         19 . The stent of  claim 18 , wherein said plurality of leaflets can be folded to reduce the diameter of said stent. 
     
     
         20 . The stent of  claim 19 , wherein said plurality of leaflets can be folded pivotally over each other. 
     
     
         21 . A stent comprising:
 an elongated body having a proximate end, a distal end, and at least one open channel formed on the exterior surface of said body to provide fluid communication between said proximal end and said distal end, wherein said elongated body is made from thermoplastic polyurethane or silicone polymers.   
     
     
         22 . A stent comprising:
 an elongated body having a proximate end, a distal end, and at least one open channel formed on the exterior surface of said body to provide fluid communication between said proximal end and said distal end,   wherein said elongated body is made from a combination of polymer and non-polymer material.