a stent is fabricated utilizing a polymer that is selected for its tendency to degrade from the surface inwardly rather than undergo bulk erosion so as to substantially reduce the risk of large particles becoming detached and being swept downstream . such polymer is hydrophobic yet has water - labile linkages interconnecting the monomers . ester or imide bonds are incorporated in the polymer to render the surface degrading materials suitable for use in stent applications . the stent may be coated with such polymer or may be wholly formed therefrom .