US Patent 7011678 Biodegradable stent

Expandable stent for insertion into a body passage having a mesh structure of interconnecting portions (6) joined together by joining portions (5). The stent, when inserted into said body passage, is adapted to dissolve into smaller parts, wherein the joining portions dissolve faster than the interconnecting portions. In a preferred embodiment the joining portions are made from a first material and the interconnecting portions are made from a second material different from said first material, wherein the first material dissolves faster than said second material.