Patent ID: 8252215

Claim:
A method for fabricating a polymeric stent comprising: combining a main polymer with a nucleating agent to form a polymer mixture, wherein the main polymer is poly(lactide-co-glycolide)(PLGA) with an L-lactide:glycolide ratio of 85:15 to 95:5, wherein the nucleating agent is poly(glycolide-co-lactide) with less than 10 wt % L-lactide, wherein the nucleating agent has a faster crystallization rate than the main polymer and a faster degradation rate than polyglycolide, wherein the nucleating agent is present in the range of 0.1 to 10% by weight of the polymer mixture; forming polymer tubing from the polymer mixture, wherein the nucleating agent increases crystallinity of the tubing; and fabricating the stent from the tubing.