Drug-releasing stent with ceramic-containing layer

A method of fabricating a multi-layer vascular or endoluminal stent for deployment in a human body to hold a natural duct or tract thereof open for passage of fluids or solids therethrough, comprising steps of applying a porous layer of substantially spherical metal particles atop surfaces of a base metal of the stent, said metal particles at the base metal surfaces being bonded thereto and said metal particles throughout the porous layer being bonded together with voids therebetween forming a reservoir for retention and dispensing of drugs from the stent when deployed, said metal particles having a radiopacity that substantially exceeds that of the base metal for high visibility viewing of the stent by fluoroscopy when deployed in the body, and coating exposed surfaces of the metal particles with a ceramic-like material while leaving said voids therebetween substantially intact and unblocked so that said reservoir remains available for infusing drugs therein.

A vascular or endoluminal stent adapted to be implanted in a selected vessel, duct or tract of a human body to maintain an open lumen at the site of the implant, comprising an open-ended tubular structure having a base layer of metal constituting a sidewall which is biologically compatible with the fluids and tissue of the human body, an intermediate layer of substantially greater radiopacity than the base layer overlying and bonded to the base layer, and a ceramic-like material coating on and adherent to exposed surfaces of the intermediate layer to inhibit irritation to tissue at the inner lining of said vessel, duct or tract when the stent is implanted therein in contact with said inner lining.