초록

A stent that is adapted for introduction into a body passageway and which releases at least one biological agent after being inserted in the body passageway. The release of the at least one biological agent can be a controlled release via molecular diffusion through a non-porous polymer layer.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A stent adapted for introduction into a body passageway of a patient, said stent comprising a base structure, biological agent and polymer; said base structure including at least one of said biological agent coated on at least a portion of said base structure, at least one layer of poly

We claim: 1. A stent adapted for introduction into a body passageway of a patient, said stent comprising a base structure, biological agent and polymer; said base structure including at least one of said biological agent coated on at least a portion of said base structure, at least one layer of polymer coated on at least a portion of said base structure or combinations thereof;said at least one biological agent at least partially mixed with said polymer, over-coated with a layer of said polymer or combinations thereof;said polymer including a non-porous polymer, said non- porous polymer having a molecular weight, molecular structure, layer thickness or combinations thereof to at least partially control a rate of release of said biological agent from said stent by a molecular diffusion process, said base structure including a surface structure, a micro-structure, an internal structure, or combinations thereof that are formed on or secured to said base structure, a plurality of said micro-structures extend upwardly from and above an outer surface of said base structure, said plurality of microstructures having a shape and size designed to penetrate into said body passageway at a treatment site when said base structure is expanded to an expanded cross-sectional area and to deliver said biological agent in said penetrated region of said body passageway, said plurality of microstructures having a height of less than 400 microns, said micro-structures at least partially coated with biological agent, at least partially made of biological agent, includes biological agent in an internal passage of said micro-structure, or combinations thereof;wherein said biological agent is present on said stent in an amount of about 20 microgram-100 microgram per mm2; andwherein a polymer layer that at least partially control a release of at least one of said biological agents from said stent, said polymer layer having a thickness of about 0.1-30 microns.