Patent 7637940 was granted and assigned to Boston Scientific on December, 2009 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
In at least one embodiment, the invention is directed to a stent having a tubular wall where at least a portion of the tubular wall comprises a bioabsorbable membrane. In the portion of the tubular wall containing the bioabsorbable membrane, the members (e.g. struts and connectors) of the stent are embedded in the bioabsorbable membrane. In at least one embodiment, the stent is also configured to elute a therapeutic agent.