Abstract: A tubular stent has first and second ends and a longitudinal axis therebetween. The tubular stent is formed from a network of struts which defines a cylindrical surface about the longitudinal axis, the struts delineating a plurality of cells within the network, there being rows of cells parallel to the longitudinal axis. At least one cell in each row is a nodal cell. There is an increase in the maximum length parallel to the longitudinal axis of cells from the nodal cell to a first distal cell in the row that is closer to the first or second end of the tubular stent. There is a second distal cell in the row which has a different maximum length parallel to the longitudinal axis from the nodal cell and the first distal cell. The network of struts comprises a plurality of circumferential rings. Each ring extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis and the rings are located adjacent to each other parallel to the longitudinal axis to define the cylindrical surface.

Abstract: A tubular stent (1) has first and second ends (2,3) and a longitudinal axis (4) therebetween. The tubular stent (1) is formed from a network of struts which defines a cylindrical surface about the longitudinal axis (4), the struts delineating a plurality of cells {23, 30, 31, 32, 33) within the network, there being rows of cells parallel to the longitudinal axis (4). At least one cell in each row is a nodal cell (23). There is an increase in the maximum length parallel to the longitudinal axis (4) of cells from the at least one nodal cell (23) to a first distal cell (30) in the row that is closer to the first or second end (2, 3) of the tubular stent (1). There is a second distal cell (31) in the row which has a different maximum length parallel to the longitudinal axis (4) from the nodal cell (23) and the first distal cell (30). The network of struts comprises a plurality of circumferential rings (6, 6?, 9, 9?, 13, 13?, 16, 16?, 17, 17?).

Abstract: A tubular stent (1) has first and second ends (2,3) and a longitudinal axis (4) therebetween. The tubular stent (1) is formed from a network of struts which defines a cylindrical surface about the longitudinal axis (4), the struts delineating a plurality of cells {23, 30, 31, 32, 33) within the network, there being rows of cells parallel to the longitudinal axis (4). At least one cell in each row is a nodal cell (23). There is an increase in the maximum length parallel to the longitudinal axis (4) of cells from the at (east one nodal cell (23) to a first distal cell (30) in the row that is closer to the first or second end (2, 3) of the tubular stent (1). There is a second distal cell (31) in the row which has a different maximum length parallel to the longitudinal axis (4) from the nodal cell (23) and the first distal cell (30). The network of struts comprises a plurality of circumferential rings (6, 6?, 9, 9?, 13, 13?, 16, 16?, 17, 17?).

Abstract: A biodegradable stent comprising a biodegradable material having dissolved therein an acid scavenging agent. The biodegradable material may be PLLA or PLGA. The acid scavenging agent may be also a pharmaceutical agent, for example an antiproliferative agent, coronary vasodilator agent and/or a bronchodilator. Preferably the acid scavenging agent is dipyridamole and/or mopidamol. The invention also provides a method of preparing a biodegradable material for use in the stent of the invention comprising: (i) preparing a formulation of the biodegradable material and the acid scavenging agent; (ii) heating the formulation to melt the biodegradable material and the acid scavenging agent so as to dissolve the agent in the material; and (iii) collecting and cooling the formulation of step (ii).

Abstract: The invention relates to a coating composition for an implantable medical device, a method of coating a medical device and a device coated with the composition.

Abstract: A composition which is photopolymerizable in the presence of water comprises:

Abstract: A polymer, possibly fabricated as part of a medical device or as part of a medical prostheses (such as a contact lens) is functionalized to facilitate the introduction of functional groups, such as biomedical species including heparin. The polymer is reacted in an aqueous medium with a water soluble azo compound (such as cyanovaleric acid or 2-methylpropionamidine) to produce oxygen centered radicals responsible for introducing functional groups into the polymer.

Abstract: A gel for use in dressing a wound and a process for the manufacture of a gel are disclosed. The gel comprises a monovalent salt of a polygalacturonic, acid derivative (such as sodium pectate) a carboxy-polysaccharide (such as a monovalent salt of a carboxycellulose derivative or a monovalent salt of an alginic acid derivative) and multivalent ions providing ionic cross-links between the monovalent salt and the carboxy-polysaccharide.