The invention discloses biodegradable implantable medical devices, wherein the degradation of the biodegradable implantable medical devices may be controllably triggered. The invention also provides a method for controlling the initiation of the degradation of the biodegradable implantable medical devices thereby sustaining axial, strength, radial rigidity and radial force of the biodegradable implantable medical devices for a time as a physician may deem adequate.