Composite material endoprosthesis

An endoprosthesis including a body structure formed of a biocompatible material, said body structure being in the form of a wire comprising a first material having an average atomic number greater than 24 and a second material that is different than said first material, said first material being present in an amount not greater than 7% by volume based on a combined volume of said first material and said second material, and wherein said body structure has a mass absorption coefficient effective to provide a ratio of an intensity of an incident X-ray to an intensity of a transmitted X-ray in a range of 1e.sup.-2 to 1e.sup.-4.

An endoprosthesis including a body structure formed of a biocompatible material, said body structure being in the form of a wire comprising a first material having an average atomic number greater than 24 and a second material that is different than said first material and nonmagnetic, said first material being present in an amount not greater than 9% by volume based on a combined volume of said first material and said second material, and wherein said body structure has a mass absorption coefficient effective to provide a ratio of an intensity of an incident X-ray to an intensity of a transmitted X-ray in a range of 1e.sup.-2 to 1e.sup.-4.

An endoprosthesis including a tubular body structure formed of a biocompatible material, an annular layer of said body structure forming an opening for receiving a member for expanding the endoprosthesis, wherein said body structure comprises a first material having an average atomic number greater than 24 and a second material that is different than said first material, said first material being present in an amount in a range of from about 30 to about 40% by volume based on a combined volume of said first material and said second material, wherein said body structure has a mass absorption coefficient effective to provide a ratio of an intensity of an incident X-ray to an intensity of a transmitted X-ray in a range of 1e.sup.-2 to 1e.sup.-4.

An endoprosthesis including a body structure formed of a biocompatible material, said body structure including a first material having an average atomic number greater than 24 and a second material that is different than said first material, said first material being present in an amount not greater than 9% by volume based on a combined volume of said first material and said second material, wherein said body structure has a controlled mass absorption coefficient effective to provide radiographic contrast corresponding to a ratio of an intensity of an incident X-ray to an intensity of a transmitted X-ray in a range of 1e.sup.-2 to 1e.sup.-4, wherein said mass absorption coefficient is controlled by selecting the volume of said first material and said second material and a size of said endoprosthesis, effective to provide the endoprosthesis with said radiographic contrast range of 1e.sup.-2 to 1e.sup.-4, wherein the endoprosthesis has a yield strength not greater than 100,000 pounds per square inch.

An endoprosthesis including a tubular body structure formed of a biocompatible material, an annular layer of said body structure forming an opening for receiving a member for expanding the endoprosthesis, wherein said body structure comprises a first material having an average atomic number greater than 24 and a second material that is different than said first material, said first material being present In an amount in a range of from about 30 to about 40% by volume based on a combined volume of said first material and said second material, wherein said body structure has a controlled mass absorption coefficient effective to provide a radiographic contrast corresponding to a ratio of an intensity of an incident X-ray to an intensity of a transmitted X-ray in a range of 1e.sup.-2 to 1e.sup.-4, wherein said mass absorption coefficient is controlled by selecting the volume of said first material and said second material and a size of said endoprosthesis, effective to provide the endoprosthesis with said radiographic contrast range of 1e.sup.-2 to 1e.sup.-4.

An endoprosthesis including a tubular body structure formed of a biocompatible material, an annular layer of said body structure forming an opening for receiving a member for expanding the endoprosthesis, wherein said body structure comprises a first material having an average atomic number greater than 24 and a second material that is different than said first material, said first material being present in an amount of not greater than 9% by volume based on a combined volume of said first material and said second material, wherein said body structure has a controlled mass absorption coefficient effective to provide a radiographic contrast corresponding to a ratio of an intensity of an incident X-ray to an intensity of a transmitted X-ray in a range of 1e.sup.-2 to 1e.sup.-4, wherein said mass absorption coefficient is controlled by selecting the volume of said first material and said second material and a size of said endoprosthesis, effective to provide the endoprosthesis with said radiographic contrast range of 1e.sup.-2 to 1e.sup.-4.