The present invention provides an intraluminal stent comprising a metallic
reinforcing component and a biodegradable polymeric material covering at
least a portion of the metallic reinforcing component. The metallic
reinforcing component provides structural reinforcement for the stent,
but this reinforcement is insufficient, in the absence of the
biodegradable polymeric material, to provide a stent capable of
maintaining patency of a lumen upon implantation of the stent into the
lumen. One advantage of the present invention, among others, is that a
stent is provided in which reduced amounts of metallic component remain
after degradation of the biodegradable polymeric material covering, in
turn reducing the incidence of metal-associated adverse events that
frequently follow implantation.