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A temporary bioabsorbable-radiopaque marker for use on an implantable endoprosthesis. The bioabsorbable-radiopaque marker is adapted to be disposed on or adjacent an implantable endoprosthesis in a body lumen for a predetermined amount of time until the bioabsorbable and radiopaque materials are abs

A temporary bioabsorbable-radiopaque marker for use on an implantable endoprosthesis. The bioabsorbable-radiopaque marker is adapted to be disposed on or adjacent an implantable endoprosthesis in a body lumen for a predetermined amount of time until the bioabsorbable and radiopaque materials are absorbed or dispersed in the body.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An implantable prosthesis and bioabsorbable radiopaque marker system comprising: an implantable, tubular, axially flexible prosthesis including a plurality of elongate filaments interwoven in a braided configuration, adapted for delivery to a treatment site in a body lu

The invention claimed is: 1. An implantable prosthesis and bioabsorbable radiopaque marker system comprising: an implantable, tubular, axially flexible prosthesis including a plurality of elongate filaments interwoven in a braided configuration, adapted for delivery to a treatment site in a body lumen, wherein the elongate filaments form multiple crossing points, and a radiopaque marker comprising a bioabsorbable material and a radiopaque material and adapted to degrade in vivo whereby the bioabsorbable material is capable of being metabolized through the body, and the radiopaque material is excreted from or stored in the body; and wherein the radiopaque marker is more radiopaque than the prosthesis, and is secured with respect to the prosthesis in surrounding relation to a pair of the elongate filaments at one of the crossing points and in a manner to enable locating the prosthesis in vivo by fluoroscopically imaging the marker. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein: the bioabsorbable material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: poly-L-lactide, poly-D-lactide, polyglycolide, polydioxanone, polycaprolactone, polygluconate, polylactic acid-polyethylene oxide copolymers, modified cellulose, collagen, poly-(hydroxybutyrate), polyanhydride, polyphosphoester, poly(amino acids), poly(alpha-hydroxy acid), and combinations thereof. 3. The system of claim 1 wherein: the radiopaque material consists of a material selected from the group consisting of: barium sulfate, bismuth trioxide, bromine, iodine, iodide, titanium oxide, zirconium oxide, tantalum, and combinations thereof. 4. The system of claim 1 wherein: the radiopaque material consists of an oxide or a salt. 5. The system of claim 1 wherein: the marker incorporates the radiopaque material at from about 1 to about 80 weight percent. 6. The system of claim 1 wherein: the bioabsorbable material consists of PLLA, and the radiopaque material consists of bismuth trioxide at least about 10 weight percent. 7. The system of claim 1 wherein: the bioabsorbable material consists of PLLA, and the radiopaque material consists of barium sulfate at least about 10 weight percent. 8. The system of claim 1 wherein: the bioabsorbable material consists of polylactide, and the radiopaque material consists of a material selected from the group consisting of: barium sulfate, bismuth trioxide, iodine, iodide, and combinations thereof. 9. The system of claim 1 wherein: the bioabsorbable material consists of a material selected from the group consisting of poly-L-lactide, poly-D-lactide, polyglycolide, and combinations thereof and the radiopaque material consists of a material selected from the group consisting of: barium sulfate, bismuth trioxide, bromine, iodine, iodide, and combinations thereof. 10. The system of claim 1 wherein: the bioabsorbable material consists of a material selected from the group consisting of: polyglycolide, polygluconate, polydioxanone, and combinations thereof and the radiopaque material consists of a material selected from the group consisting of: barium sulfate, bismuth trioxide, bromine, iodine, iodide, and combinations thereof. 11. The system of claim 1 wherein: the radiopaque marker is in a form selected from the group consisting of: mono-filament, multi-filament, thread, ribbon, suture, and combinations thereof. 12. The system of claim 1 wherein: the marker further comprises at least one cavity containing the radiopaque material. 13. The system of claim 1 wherein: the radiopaque marker further comprises a radiopaque filament interwoven with the elongate filaments of the prosthesis. 14. The system of claim 1 wherein: the radiopaque marker further comprises a radiopaque filament smaller in diameter than the elongate filaments of the prosthesis. 15. The system of claim 1 wherein: the radiopaque marker is secured to the prosthesis with an adhesive. 16. An implantable endoprosthesis and bioabsorbable-radiopaque marker system comprising: an implantable expandable tubular prosthesis formed of a plurality of elongate filaments interconnected with one another, the prosthesis adapted to be disposed in a body lumen; and an elongated marker adapted to be secured with respect to the prosthesis in a manner to enable locating the prosthesis in vivo by fluoroscopically imaging the marker, said marker comprising a bioabsorbable material and a radiopaque material, the marker having at least one cavity with the radiopaque material disposed therein and wherein the bioabsorbable material at least partially contains the radiopaque material, wherein the marker is more radiopaque than the prosthesis. 17. The system of claim 16 wherein: the elongate filaments are interbraided with one another. 18. The system of claim 16 wherein: the marker comprises a filament incorporating the bioabsorbable material and the radiopaque material, interwoven with the elongate filaments of the prosthesis. 19. The system of claim 16 wherein: the elongate filaments of the prosthesis form multiple crossing points, and the radiopaque marker is secured in surrounding relation to a pair of the elongate filaments at one of the crossing points. 20. The system of claim 16 wherein: the radiopaque marker comprises a radiopaque filament smaller in diameter than the elongate filaments of the prosthesis. 21. An implantable medical device, including: a tubular, radially expandable prosthesis adapted for deployment in vivo, wherein the prosthesis includes a plurality of elongate filaments forming a plurality of crossing points; and a discrete marker comprising an interwoven elongate filament, including a dispersible radiopaque material and thereby being more radiopaque than the prosthesis, and further including a bioabsorbable material whereby the marker is degradable in vivo; wherein the discrete marker is secured to the prosthesis in a surrounding relationship to a pair of the elongate filaments at one of the crossing points at a predetermined portion of the prosthesis to provide an enhanced radiopacity over said predetermined portion, thus to facilitate a selective positioning of the prosthesis in vivo through a fluoroscopic imaging of the marker; and wherein the discrete marker degrades in vivo at a first degradation rate, thus to diminish the radiopacity over said predetermined portion after deployment. 22. The device of claim 21 wherein: the filaments are interwoven in a braided configuration. 23. The device of claim 22 wherein: the discrete marker further comprises an elongate element interbraided with the elongate filaments. 24. The device of claim 21 wherein: the prosthesis is degradable, and the prosthesis degrades in vivo at a second degradation rate lower than the first degradation rate. 25. The device of claim 21 wherein: the bioabsorbable material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: poly-L-lactide, poly-D-lactide, polyglycolide, polydioxanone, polycaprolactone, polygluconate, polylactic acid-polyethylene oxide copolymers, modified cellulose, collagen, poly-(hydroxybutyrate), polyanhydride, polyphosphoester, poly(amino acids), poly(alpha-hydroxy acid), and combinations thereof. 26. The device of claim 21 wherein: the radiopaque material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: barium sulfate, bismuth trioxide, bromine, iodine, iodide, titanium oxide, zirconium oxide, tantalum, and combinations thereof. 27. The device of claim 21 wherein: the bioabsorbable material consists essentially of polylactide, and the radiopaque material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: barium sulfate, bismuth trioxide, iodine, iodide, and combinations thereof. 28. The device of claim 21 wherein: the bioabsorbable material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of poly-L-lactide, poly-D-lactide, polyglycolide, and combinations thereof and the radiopaque material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: barium sulfate, bismuth trioxide, bromine, iodine, iodide, and combinations thereof. 29. The device of claim 21 wherein: the bioabsorbable material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: polyglycolide, polygluconate, polydioxanone, and combinations thereot and the radiopaque material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: barium sulfate, bismuth trioxide, bromine, iodine, iodide, and combinations thereof 30. The device of claim 21 wherein: the marker further comprises at least one cavity containing the radiopaque material.