Patent ID: 8287589

Claim:
A process for removal of a tubular tissue support from a hollow organ of a human or of an animal, wherein the tubular tissue support comprises at least one shape-memory polymer having physical or covalent crosslinking points determining a permanent shape of the tissue support and at least one switching segment, the at least one switching segment having a transition temperature T trans at which the shape memory effect can be triggered wherein the transition temperature T trans of the at least one switching segment is higher than a body temperature of the human or of the animal, and the polymer further has a softening point at which the elastic modulus is less than 200 MPa, wherein the softening point is below the transition temperature T trans , said process comprising the steps of heating a previously implanted and expanded tissue support to a temperature corresponding to the softening point and below the transition temperature T trans of the at least one switching segment until softening occurs while substantially retaining the expanded size and shape of the softened tissue support; and withdrawing the softened implanted tissue support in a minimally invasive way from the hollow organ while substantially retaining its expanded size and shape.