Hollow drug-filled stent and method of forming hollow drug-filled stent

A method of forming a stent comprising the steps of:

• shaping a composite hollow wire into a stent pattern, wherein the wire having a wire outer surface and a wire inner surface, the wire inner surface defines a wire lumen, a radiopaque intermediate member having a radiopaque member inner surface and a radiopaque member outer surface contacting the wire inner surface, and a core member, wherein the radiopaque intermediate member is disposed between the wire inner surface and the core member;
• processing the composite wire such that the core member is removed without adversely affecting the wire and the radiopaque member, thereby leaving the wire and the radiopaque member, the radiopaque member lining at least a portion of the wire inner surface, and a radiopaque member lumen defined by a space formerly occupied by the core member such that the radiopaque member lumen is defined by the radiopaque member inner surface and extending longitudinally within the radiopaque member at the portions of the wire inner surface lined by the radiopaque member and is defined by the wire inner surface at any portions of the wire inner surface not lined by the radiopaque member;
• filling at least a portion of the radiopaque member lumen with a biologically or pharmacologically active substance;
• and
• providing openings through at least the wire outer and inner surface to the wire lumen or through the wire outer and inner surfaces and the radiopaque member to the radiopaque member lumen, such that prior to implantation in a body lumen the openings extend from the wire outer surface to the wire lumen or the radiopaque member lumen, respectively.