Methods for fabricating polymer-bioceramic composite implantable medical devices

A method for fabricating a stent comprising:

• forming a suspension solution including a fluid, a polymer and bioceramic particles, wherein the polymer is dissolved in the fluid, and wherein the bioceramic particles are dispersed in the solution;
• evaporating at least some of the fluid to precipitate at least some of the polymer from the suspension solution, wherein at least some of the bioceramic particles are precipitated with the precipitated polymer to form a composite mixture, the composite mixture comprising the precipitated bioceramic particles dispersed within the precipitated polymer;
• and
• fabricating a stent from the composite mixture after removing from the suspension solution, wherein fabricating the stent comprises extruding the composite mixture above the melting point (Tm) of the polymer to form a polymer tube, wherein the extruded composite mixture is conveyed through a die and into a water bath at a temperature below 25 deg C., and wherein the stent is fabricated from the tube.