Biodegradable medical devices and method to control degradation of the biodegradable medical devices

Abstract

An implantable biodegradable device having two or more layers composed of one or more biodegradable materials is disclosed. The two or more layers are coated with one or more drugs. The implantable biodegradable device further having one or more inert layers is composed of a biodegradable material. The one or more inert layers of the implantable biodegradable device are degraded in response to introduction of one or more external triggers when the implantable biodegradable medical device is placed within a living organism. Further, a layer of the two or more layers having a position above an inert layer is degraded prior to degradation of the inert layer. Subsequently, a layer of the two or more layers having a position below the inert layer is degraded subsequent to degradation of the inert layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of controlling degradation of an implantable biodegradable medical device placed within a living organism, the method comprising:
 supplying at least one external trigger to at least one inert layer of the implantable biodegradable medical device, wherein the at least one inert layer is degraded in response to supplying the at least one external trigger; and   degrading at least one layer of a plurality of layers of the implantable biodegradable medical device, the at least one layer is composed of a biodegradable material and coated with at least one drug, wherein at least one layer of the plurality of layers having a position at least one of below and above the at least one inert layer, the at least one layer having a position above the at least one inert layer degrades prior to degradation of the at least one inert layer; and the at least one layer of the plurality of layers having a position below the at least one inert layer degrades subsequent to degradation of the at least one inert layer.   wherein a layer of the plurality of layers having a position above an inert layer is degraded prior to degradation of the inert layer, wherein a layer of the plurality of layers having a position below the inert layer is degraded subsequent to degradation of the inert layer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one external trigger is supplied by means of a balloon, a catheter, a Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty (PTA) catheter and a Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) catheter. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprises releasing the at least one drug in response to degradation of the at least one layer of the plurality of layers. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one inert layer is coated with the at least one drug, further comprising releasing the at least one drug in response to degradation of the at least one inert layer.