US 5,464,650 A · Intravascular stent and method

Abstract

A method for making an intravascular stent by applying to the body of a stent a solution which includes a solvent, a polymer dissolved in the solvent and a therapeutic substance dispersed in the solvent and then evaporating the solvent. The inclusion of a polymer in intimate contact with a drug on the stent allows the drug to be retained on the stent during expansion of the stent and also controls the administration of drug following implantation. The adhesion of the coating and the rate at which the drug is delivered can be controlled by the selection of an appropriate bioabsorbable or biostable polymer and the ratio of drug to polymer in the solution. By this method, drugs such as dexamethasone can be applied to a stent, retained on a stent during expansion of the stent and elute at a controlled rate.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method for making an intravascular stent comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a cylindrical, radially expandable stent body;
(b) applying to the stent body by spraying a solution which includes a solvent, a polymer dissolved in the solvent and a therapeutic substance dispersed in the solvent;
(c) evaporating the solvent;
(d) repeating application and evaporating steps (b) and (c) to provide an amount of polymer and therapeutic substance on the stent body;
and
(e) radially expanding the stent body and applied polymer and therapeutic substance such that the polymer and therapeutic substance are retained on the stent body.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Intravascular stent and method

Life of this patent

Intravascular stent and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22