Metal stent containing radioactivatable isotope and method of making same

Abstract

A metal stent for vascular implantation comprising a generally tubular structure whose external surface is adapted to engage the interior vascular surface when implanted, said metal of said stent containing a substantially uniform dispersion of from about 0.05 to about 10.00 percent by weight of one or more naturally occurring or enriched stable isotopes having a half-life of less than two months and that are principally beta particle emitters, so that when activated, said stent emits low to moderate dosages of radiation uniformly to reduce cell proliferation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.