Method for delivering a therapeutic substance to a body lumen

Abstract

A method for delivering a therapeutic substance to a body lumen utilizing an intravascular stent having a coating comprising a polymer and a therapeutic substance in a solid/solid solution with the polymer. The coating comprises a first coating layer nearer the stent body having a first concentration of therapeutic substance overlaid by a second porous coating layer having a second lesser concentration of therapeutic substance. The inclusion of a porous polymer coating layer on the stent helps retain the therapeutic substance on the stent during expansion of the stent and also controls the administration of the therapeutic substance following implantation. 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.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.