Elution control via geometric features of an implantable substance matrix
AssigneeCardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
InventorRobert Oskar Jensen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cardiac lead that is adapted and configured to elute a therapeutic agent to treat the surrounding tissue at a target location within a patient's heart is described. The cardiac lead includes a drug eluting member having a predetermined number of macroscopic surface features formed on its exterior surface. The macroscopic surface features allow the elution rate to be controlled and/or increased without the need for modifying the amount of therapeutic agent in the drug eluting member.
Claims20
A cardiac lead, the lead comprising:
- a conductive lead body including a proximal end and a distal end;
- at least one electrode located on the lead body;
- and
- a drug eluting member having an exterior surface adjacent the at least one electrode, wherein the drug eluting member comprises a mixture of at least one polymer and a therapeutic agent, and wherein the exterior surface of the drug eluting member includes a plurality of macroscopic surface features arranged in a non-random pattern.
A cardiac lead comprising:
- a conductive lead body including a proximal end and a distal end;
- at least one electrode located on the lead body;
- a drug eluting member having an exterior surface adjacent the at least one electrode, wherein the drug eluting member is formed from a mixture comprising a non-biodegradable polymer and a therapeutic agent;
- and
- a means for increasing the surface area of the drug eluting member, the means having a major size dimension ranging from about 0.001 inches to about 0.10 inches.
A method of forming a drug eluting member configured to control an elution rate of a therapeutic agent, the method comprising:
- providing a mold tool having a plurality of mold features configured to form a plurality of corresponding macroscopic surface features on an exterior surface of the drug eluting member;
- providing a mixture comprising a polymer and a therapeutic agent;
- and
- using the mold tool to mold the drug eluting member from the polymer mixture such that the drug eluting member comprises a plurality of macroscopic surface features formed on the exterior surface of the drug eluting member, wherein the macroscopic surface features are arranged in a non-random, ordered pattern.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.