Biodisintegrable medical devices

Abstract

According to an aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides medical devices which contain one or more polymeric regions that are at least partially biodisintegrable in bodily fluid. These devices may be implanted or inserted into a subject for treatment of various diseases, disorders and conditions.

1 . An implantable or insertable medical device for supporting a body lumen, said device comprising oxidized cellulose, at least a portion of said device softening or completely dissolving upon implantation or insertion into a subject. 
     
     
         2 - 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The implantable or insertable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein said device is a urological medical device. 
     
     
         5 . The implantable or insertable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein said device is a ureteral stent. 
     
     
         6 . The implantable or insertable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said medical device comprises a blend of oxidized cellulose and a biostable polymer and wherein that portion of said device softens upon implantation or insertion into the subject. 
     
     
         7 . The implantable or insertable medical device of  claim 6 , wherein said biostable polymer is an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. 
     
     
         8 . The implantable or insertable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein said device completely dissolves upon implantation or insertion into a subject. 
     
     
         9 . The implantable or insertable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein a first portion of said device completely dissolves upon implantation or insertion into a subject and a second portion does not completely dissolve. 
     
     
         10 . The implantable or insertable medical device of  claim 9 , wherein said device is a ureteral stent having a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein said proximal end completely dissolves and said distal end does not. 
     
     
         11 . A ureteral stent comprising a polymeric region which comprises a biodisintegrable polymer blended with a biostable polymer, wherein upon placement in a subject, at least a portion of said biodisintegrable polymer is removed from the device by urine being voided by the subject thereby softening said polymeric region. 
     
     
         12 . The ureteral stent of  claim 11 , wherein said biodisintegrable polymer is a water soluble polymer. 
     
     
         13 . The ureteral stent of  claim 11 , wherein said polymeric region comprises oxidized cellulose blended with a ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. 
     
     
         14 . The ureteral stent of  claim 11 , wherein said region corresponds to the proximal end of said stent. 
     
     
         15 . The ureteral stent of  claim 11 , wherein said region corresponds to said entire stent. 
     
     
         16 . A ureteral stent having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said proximal end of said stent comprises a biodisintegrable polymer and completely biodisintegrates upon placement in a subject, wherein said distal end of said stent comprises a biostable polymer, a biodisintegrable polymer, or both, and wherein said distal end of said stent completely biodisintegrates in vivo at a slower rate than the rate at which said proximal end dissolves. 
     
     
         17 . The ureteral stent of  claim 16 , wherein said biodisintegrable polymer is a water soluble polymer. 
     
     
         18 . The ureteral stent of  claim 17 , wherein said water soluble polymer is oxidized cellulose. 
     
     
         19 . The ureteral stent of  claim 16 , wherein said distal end of said stent comprises an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and remains intact in vivo. 
     
     
         20 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method comprising administering to a subject a composition that alters the pH of the subject's urine, said subject having inserted or implanted therein a urological medical device that comprises a dissolvable polymer, wherein the composition either slows or accelerates the dissolution of said dissolvable polymer. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said dissolvable polymer comprises acidic groups and wherein the composition increases the pH thereby accelerating the dissolution of said dissolvable polymer. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said dissolvable polymer comprises acidic groups and wherein the composition decreases the pH thereby slowing the dissolution of said dissolvable polymer. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said dissolvable polymer comprises basic groups and wherein the composition decreases the pH thereby accelerating the dissolution of said dissolvable polymer. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said dissolvable polymer comprises basic groups and wherein the composition increases the pH thereby slowing the dissolution of said dissolvable polymer. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said urological medical device is a ureteral stent.