초록 ▼

A medical device provided with at least a partial surface coating of a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoroalkylvinylether that is free of cross-linking monomers and curing agents. The fluoropolymer coating is preferably an amorphous thermoplastic, is highly inert and biocomp

A medical device provided with at least a partial surface coating of a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoroalkylvinylether that is free of cross-linking monomers and curing agents. The fluoropolymer coating is preferably an amorphous thermoplastic, is highly inert and biocompatible, has elastomeric characteristics that provide desirable mechanical properties such as good flexibility and durability. These characteristics allow the coating to be considered “functionally transparent” because it withstands mechanical deformations required for the assembly, deployment, expansion, and placement of medical devices, without any adverse effect on the mechanical and biological functionality of the coated device. Further, its inertness, derived from the perfluorocarbon structure, contributes to its functionally transparent nature. The coating can be provided with various liquid or solid additives, can be loaded with large quantities of additives including a wide range of therapeutic agents, and has excellent drug elution characteristics when elutable additives are used. The desirable mechanical characteristics are surprising given the absence of cross-linking monomers and curing agents that would otherwise render such materials inadequately biocompatible. The perfluoroalkylvinylether may be perfluoromethylvinylether, perfluoroethylvinylether or perfluoropropylvinylether.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An implantable device comprising a device having expandable endoluminal elements in adjacent relationship with an open interstice between adjacent expandable endoluminal elements, said expandable endoluminal elements provided with a covering over at least one open inters

The invention claimed is: 1. An implantable device comprising a device having expandable endoluminal elements in adjacent relationship with an open interstice between adjacent expandable endoluminal elements, said expandable endoluminal elements provided with a covering over at least one open interstice rendering it no longer open, wherein at least a portion of said covering and at least a portion of said endoluminal elements are provided with a coating comprising a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoroalkylvinylether.