The present invention comprises a medical device having an underlying
structure on which is disposed a fiber meshwork composed of one or more
fibers of substantially uniform diameter. The fiber meshwork may
optionally have a multi-layer structure disposed upon it. Either or both
of the fiber meshwork or the multi-layer structure may have one or more
therapeutic agents absorbed within it. The fiber meshwork is permeable to
body fluids and thereby permits body fluids to contact the underlying
structure to facilitate its controlled disintegration. The fiber meshwork
degrades more slowly than the underlying structure thereby permitting
release of the therapeutic agent over a timescale longer than that of the
lifetime of the underlying structure, while also ensuring that the
support function of the underlying structure is not abrogated by the
disintegration of the underlying structure.