Vascular and endoluminal stents with improved coatings
AssigneeInflow Dynamics Inc.
InventorEckhard Alt
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Abstract
A vascular or endoluminal stent is adapted for deployment in a vessel or tract of a patient to maintain an open lumen therein. The stent includes a biocompatible metal hollow tube constituting a base layer having a multiplicity of openings through an open-ended tubular wall thereof, the tube constituting a single member from which the entire stent is fabricated, and a thin, tightly adherent intermediate layer of noble metal overlying the entire exposed surface area of the tube including edges of the openings as well as exterior and interior surfaces and ends of the wall. A third, outermost ceramic-like layer composed of an oxide, hydroxide or nitrate of a noble metal is formed atop and in adherent relation to the intermediate layer.
Claims41
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 a biocompatible metal hollow tube having a multiplicity of openings through an open-ended tubular sidewall thereof as a base layer which is biologically compatible with the blood and tissue of the human body, said tube constituting a single member from which the entire stent is fabricated;
- a thin, tightly adherent intermediate layer of a noble metal of substantially greater radiopacity than the base layer overlying the entire exposed surface area of said tube including edges of said openings as well as exterior and interior surfaces and ends of said sidewall;
- and a highly biocompatible ceramic-like metal outermost layer adherent to and overlying said intermediate layer.
A metallic device acceptable for implantation in a human body, comprising a biocompatible metal base;
- a thin, continuous, tightly adherent first layer of noble metal or alloy thereof overlying an exposed surface area of said metal base;
- and a biocompatible metal outer layer having a relatively rough porous surface with interstices therein adherent to and overlying said first layer.
A device adapted to be implanted in a human body, comprising a substantially continuous inner layer of noble metal or alloy;
- and a biocompatible outer layer of an oxide, hydroxide or nitrate of metal having a comparatively rough porous surface and a galvanic potential relative to said inner layer which is insufficient to cause deterioration of metal in contact with said inner layer;
- said outer layer overlying and in intimate bonded relation to said inner layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.