Patent ID: 8715569
Filing Date: 2014-05-06
Classification: A61L

Abstract:
1. A method of stabilizing a stent comprising: sterilizing a stent made of polymer with radiation exposure, wherein the radiation exposure generates free radicals within the polymer, wherein the polymer is poly(L-lactide); exposing the stent to a temperature to increase a temperature of the stent for a duration of time, wherein the increase in temperature reduces the concentration of free radicals and increases the decay kinetics of free radicals leading to their disappearance and thereby reducing the chemical degradation of the polymer due to the sterilization, wherein the exposure is performed at the temperature that avoids modifying degree of crystallinity, crystal size, and polymer chain alignment of the polymer of the stent, and wherein the temperature of exposure is in a temperature range consisting of above ambient temperature to less than the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polymer.