Abstract: A luminal stent, implanted and implanted and left in the blood vessel, is disclosed. By permitting a stent (1), formed of a biodegradable polymer material (2), to be swollen, and by impregnating the swollen stent (1) with a drug, a sufficient quantity of the drug is impregnated in the stent. This drug is continuously released into the blood vessel over a prolonged time. A biodegradable polymer layer is formed on the surface of the stent (1) impregnated with the drug, and the release rate of the drug impregnated in the stent is controlled.

Abstract: A thread for forming a vascular stent implanted in vessels is provided. This thread is formed by melt-spinning a biodegradable polymer. On the surface of the thread, there is formed a layer of a drug-containing biodegradable polymer of the same sort as the biodegradable polymer constituting the thread.

Abstract: A stent for a vessel implanted in the vessel of the living body including a main body portion of the stent formed into a tube by a yarn formed of a biodegradable polymer exhibiting a shape memory function. The main body portion of the stent is shape-memorized to a size that can be implanted in the vessel. The main body portion of the stent is implanted in the vessel of the living body as it is contracted in diameter by an external force, and is enlarged in diameter by being heated with the temperature of the living body. The main body portion of the stent is formed by winding a yarn formed of a biodegradable polymer in a tube form as the yarn is bent in a zigzag design. The main body portion of the stent is enlarged or contracted in diameter with the bends of the yarn as the displacing portions.

Abstract: A stent for a vessel implanted in the vessel of the living body including a main body portion of the stent formed into a tube by a yarn formed of a biodegradable polymer exhibiting a shape memory function. The main body portion of the stent is shape-memorized to a size that can be inplanted in the vessel. The main body portion of the stent is implanted in the vessel of the living body as it is contracted in diameter by an external force, and is enlarged in diameter by being heated with the temperature of the living body. The main body portion of the stent is formed by winding a yarn formed of a biodegradable polymer in a tube form as the yarn is bent in a zigzag design. The main body portion of the stent is enlarged or contracted in diameter with the bends of the yarn as the displacing portions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a stent for a vessel implanted and left in the vessel of a living body to support the lumen of the vessel from inside. The stent for a vessel consists of a plurality of stent constituting members (4a and 4b), formed by combining a plurality of the tubular-body constituting elements (5a and 5b) in multistage, each of the tubular-body forming elements (5) comprising a part of a tubular member (2) is formed by bending a yarn (3) of a biodegradable polymer in a zigzag design. Each of stent constituting members (4a and 4b) is comprised with tubular segments (6) formed by combining the tubular-body forming elements (5a and 5b) facing each other, and by continuously joining at least neighboring parts of each tubular-body forming element (5a and 5b) together, to comprise a continuously joined tubular body (2).

Abstract: A device for delivery of a stent for a vessel, used for implanting a stent for the vessel 3 in the vessel, is disclosed. The device for delivery of a stent for the vessel includes a catheter (1) for insertion into the vessel of a living body, a balloon (2) mounted on an outer peripheral surface of the distal end side of the catheter and inflatable with a fluid supplied to the catheter, a stent for the vessel (3), formed of a biodegradable polymer to a tube form, mounted on the balloon in a diameter-contracted state and having self-expanding properties, and a stent holding member (21) formed of a polymer material to a tube form for covering at least a portion of the stent for the vessel from the catheter for holding the stent for the vessel on the balloon. The stent holding member has been drawn in the longitudinal direction. In the distal end of the stent holding member, located towards the distal end of the catheter, there is formed a tearing assisting portion (22).

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for delivery of a stent for a vessel used for implanting the stent for a vessel in the blood vessel. The delivery system includes a protective sheath (1), inserted into the vessel of a living body, a catheter (2) inserted for back-and-forth movement in the protective sheath (1), a balloon (4) arranged on the outer peripheral surface towards the distal end side of the catheter (2), configured to be protruded from the distal end of the protective sheath (1), so that the balloon is expanded by a fluid supplied to the catheter (2), and a stent for a vessel (5) formed of a biodegradable material. The stent for a vessel (5) is mounted in a state contracted in diameter on the balloon (4) and is moved back and forth along with the balloon (4) relative to the protective sheath (1). The stent for a vessel has at least one end part temporarily held by a temporary holding member (23).

Abstract: The present invention includes a linear material used for a stent implanted in a blood vessel such as the coronary artery, and a blood vessel stent employing this linear material. The linear material is formed of a biodegradable polymer poly-(L-lactic acid) having a crystallinity, as measured by differential calorimetry, of 15 to 60%. The linear material is a monofilament having a diameter of 0.08 mm to 0.30 mm. This monofilament is shaped to a tubular structure used as the blood vessel stent.

Abstract: A stent for a vessel implanted in the vessel of the living body including a main body portion of the stent formed into a tube by a yarn formed of a biodegradable polymer exhibiting a shape memory function. The main body portion of the stent is shape-memorized to a size that can be inplanted in the vessel. The main body portion of the stent is implanted in the vessel of the living body as it is contracted in diameter by an external force, and is enlarged in diameter by being heated with the temperature of the living body. The main body portion of the stent is formed by winding a yarn formed of a biodegradable polymer in a tube form as the yarn is bent in a zigzag design. The main body portion of the stent is enlarged or contracted in diameter with the bends of the yarn as the displacing portions.

Abstract: A thread (1) for forming a vascular stent implanted in vessels. This thread is formed by melt-spinning a biodegradable polymer. On the surface of the thread, there is formed a layer (2) of a drug-containing biodegradable polymer of the same sort as the biodegradable polymer constituting the thread.

Abstract: A stent for a vessel implanted in the vessel of the living body including a main body portion of the stent formed into a tube by a yarn formed of a biodegradable polymer exhibiting a shape memory function. The main body portion of the stent is shape-memorized to a size that can be inplanted in the vessel. The main body portion of the stent is implanted in the vessel of the living body as it is contracted in diameter by an external force, and is enlarged in diameter by being heated with the temperature of the living body. The main body portion of the stent is formed by winding a yarn formed of a biodegradable polymer in a tube form as the yarn is bent in a zigzag design. The main body portion of the stent is enlarged or contracted in diameter with the bends of the yarn as the displacing portions.

Abstract: A stent for a vessel inserted in use into the vessel of a living body including a tubular member constituting a passageway from one end to its opposite end. The tubular member includes a main mid portion and low tenacity portions formed integrally with both ends of the main mid portion. The low tenacity portions are lower in tenacity than the main mid portion. These low tenacity portions are formed so as to have the Young's modulus approximate to that of the vessel of the living body in which is inserted the stent, so that, when the stent is inserted into the vessel, it is possible to prevent stress concentrated portions from being produced in the vessel.

Abstract: The present invention is relative to a melt spinning apparatus for melt spinning a biodegradable polymer material. The biodegradable polymer material is melted by a melt mechanism (4) including a screw (16) which is mounted in a vertically mounted cylinder (8) coaxially with the cylinder (8) and which is rotationally driven by a rotational driving mechanism (7). The screw includes at least one turn of a helical groove (17) on its peripheral surface. The biodegradable polymer material being melted in this way is discharged in the vertical direction from a discharge opening of a nozzle (10) mounted coaxially on the cylinder (8).

Abstract: A luminal stent, implanted and implanted and left in the blood vessel, is disclosed. By permitting a stent (1), formed of a biodegradable polymer material (2), to be swollen, and by impregnating the swollen stent (1) with a drug, a sufficient quantity of the drug is impregnated in the stent. This drug is continuously released into the blood vessel over a prolonged time. A biodegradable polymer layer is formed on the surface of the stent (1) impregnated with the drug, and the release rate of the drug impregnated in the stent is controlled.

Abstract: A stent for a vessel implanted in the vessel of the living body including a main body portion of the stent formed into a tube by a yarn formed of a biodegradable polymer exhibiting a shape memory function. The main body portion of the stent is shape-memorized to a size that can be inplanted in the vessel. The main body portion of the stent is implanted in the vessel of the living body as it is contracted in diameter by an external force, and is enlarged in diameter by being heated with the temperature of the living body. The main body portion of the stent is formed by winding a yarn formed of a biodegradable polymer in a tube form as the yarn is bent in a zigzag design. The main body portion of the stent is enlarged or contracted in diameter with the bends of the yarn as the displacing portions.

Abstract: A stent for a vessel implanted in the vessel of the living body including a main body portion of the stent formed into a tube by a yarn formed of a biodegradable polymer exhibiting a shape memory function. The main body portion of the stent is shape-memorized to a size that can be inplanted in the vessel. The main body portion of the stent is implanted in the vessel of the living body as it is contracted in diameter by an external force, and is enlarged in diameter by being heated with the temperature of the living body. The main body portion of the stent is formed by winding a yarn formed of a biodegradable polymer in a tube form as the yarn is bent in a zigzag design. The main body portion of the stent is enlarged or contracted in diameter with the bends of the yarn as the displacing portions.

Abstract: A stent holding member used in a stent delivery system adapted to implant a stent of a cylindrical configuration, designed to be embedded in a living body, to a desired site of implantation in a vessel of the living body. The stent holding member includes a tubular holding member formed of an elastic material. The holder has a groove in its outer peripheral portion for holding one or more supporting struts making up the stent. Each of these supporting struts is embedded at least partially in the groove to hold the stent. The groove has its opening end side expanded by expansion of the holder along the radial direction. By expansion of the opened end of the groove, the stent held in the groove is dilated and released from the holder.

Abstract: A stent for a vessel implanted in the vessel of the living body including a main body portion of the stent formed into a tube by a yarn, which is formed of a biodegradable polymer, exhibiting a shape memory function. The main body portion of the stent is shape-memorized to a size that can be implanted in the vessel. The main body portion of the stent is implanted in the vessel of the living body as it is contracted in diameter by an external force, and is enlarged in diameter by being heated with the body temperature of the living body. The main body portion of the stent is formed by winding a yarn formed of a biodegradable polymer in a tube form as the yarn is bent in a zigzag design. The main body portion of the stent is enlarged or contracted in diameter with the bends of the yarn as the displacing portions.

Abstract: A luminal stent is a tubular body formed by knitting a sole yarn of a bioresorbable polymer fiber, such as fiber of polylactic acid, polyglycol acid or a polylactic acid—polyglycol acid copolymer. When introduced into and attached to the inside of the vessel by a catheter fitted with a balloon, the tubular member may retain its shape for several weeks to several months after attachment and subsequently disappears by being absorbed into the living tissue. In this manner, the luminal stent is not left as a foreign matter semi-permanently in the living body without producing inflammation or hypertrophy in the vessel. There is also provided a method for attaching the luminal stent in the vessel.

Abstract: A luminal stent is a tubular body formed by knitting a sole yarn of a bioresorbable polymer fiber, such as fiber of polylactic acid, polyglycol acid or a polylactic acid—polyglycol acid copolymer. When introduced into and attached to the inside of the vessel by a catheter fitted with a balloon, the tubular member may retain its shape for several weeks to several months after attachment and subsequently disappears by being absorbed into the living tissue. In this manner, the luminal stent is not left as a foreign matter semi-permanently in the living body without producing inflammation or hypertrophy in the vessel. There is also provided a method for attaching the luminal stent in the vessel.