Irradiated stent coating

Abstract

An expandable stent for use within a body passageway having a body member with two ends and a wall surface disposed between the ends. The body member has a first diameter to permit delivery of the body member into a body passageway and a second expanded diameter. The surface of the stent is coated with a biological agent and a polymer which controls the release of the biological agent.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An expandable stent for use within in a body passageway including a body member, a coating compound, and a biological agent, said body member having first and second ends and a wall surface disposed between said first and second ends, said body member having a first cross-sectional area which permits delivery of said body member into said body passageway, and a second expanded cross-sectional area, said biological agent at least partially coated on the surface of said body member, said coating compound at least partially securing said biological agent to said body member, said coating compound including at least one radiation induced cross-linking.  
     
     
         2 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein said wall surface is formed by a plurality of intersecting elongated members, at least some of said elongated members intersecting with one another intermediate said first and second ends of said body member, said plurality of elongated members including a plurality of wires, said wires being fixedly secured to one another where said wires intersect with one another.  
     
     
         3 . The stent as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said wall surface is formed by a plurality of intersecting elongated members, at least some of said elongated members intersecting with one another intermediate said first and second ends of said body member, said plurality of elongated members including a plurality of thin bars, said bars being fixedly secured to one another where said bars intersect with one another.  
     
     
         4 . The stent as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said wall surface includes a plurality of elongated slots.  
     
     
         5 . The stent as defined in  claim 1 , including two body members and at least one connector member connected between said two body members, said connector member allowing transverse bending flexibility of said stent.  
     
     
         6 . The stent as defined in  claim 2 , including two body members and at least one connector member connected between said two body members, said connector member allowing transverse bending flexibility of said stent.  
     
     
         7 . The stent as defined in  claim 3 , including two body members and at least one connector member connected between said two body members, said connector member allowing transverse bending flexibility of said stent.  
     
     
         8 . The stent as defined in  claim 4 , including two body members and at least one connector member connected between said two body members, said connector member allowing transverse bending flexibility of said stent.  
     
     
         9 . The stent as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said body member includes material to make the body member visible under fluoroscopy.  
     
     
         10 . The stent as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said body member is at least partially coated with a material that is visible under fluoroscopy.  
     
     
         11 . The stent as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said biological agent is releasably coated on said stent.  
     
     
         12 . The stent as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said biological agent is releasably coated on said stent.  
     
     
         13 . The stent as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said biological agent is releasably coated on said stent.  
     
     
         14 . The stent as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said biological agent is releasably coated on said stent.  
     
     
         15 . The stent as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said biological agent is releasably coated on said stent.  
     
     
         16 . The stent as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said biological agent is releasably coated on said stent.  
     
     
         17 . The stent as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said biological agent is releasably coated on said stent.  
     
     
         18 . The stent as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said coating compound at least partially delays delivery of said biological agent into said body passageway.  
     
     
         19 . The stent as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said coating compound at least partially delays delivery of said biological agent into said body passageway.  
     
     
         20 . The stent as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said coating compound at least partially delays delivery of said biological agent into said body passageway.  
     
     
         21 . The stent as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said coating compound at least partially delays delivery of said biological agent into said body passageway.  
     
     
         22 . The stent as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said coating compound at least partially delays delivery of said biological agent into said body passageway.  
     
     
         23 . The stent as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said coating compound at least partially delays delivery of said biological agent into said body passageway.  
     
     
         24 . The stent as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said coating compound at least partially delays delivery of said biological agent into said body passageway.  
     
     
         25 . The stent as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said coating compound includes a polymer, a copolymer or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         26 . The stent as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said coating compound includes a polymer, a copolymer or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         27 . The stent as defined in  claim 23 , wherein said coating compound includes a polymer, a copolymer or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         28 . The stent as defined in  claim 24 , wherein said coating compound includes a polymer, a copolymer or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         29 . The stent as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said biological agent forms a polymer salt complex with said coating compound.  
     
     
         30 . The stent as defined in  claim 26 , wherein said biological agent forms a polymer salt complex with said coating compound.  
     
     
         31 . The stent as defined in  claim 27 , wherein said biological agent forms a polymer salt complex with said coating compound.  
     
     
         32 . The stent as defined in  claim 28 , wherein said biological agent forms a polymer salt complex with said coating compound.  
     
     
         33 . The stent as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said geometrically shaped member is treated with radiation to reduce the vascular narrowing of at least a portion of said body passageway.  
     
     
         34 . The stent as defined in  claim 1 , including an angioplasty balloon, said angioplasty balloon including at least one opening to allow delivery of said biological agent from an interior of said balloon to said body passageway.  
     
     
         35 . The stent as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said body member having substantially the same longitudinal length when said body member is in its first cross-sectional area and in its said second expanded cross-sectional area.  
     
     
         36 . The stent as defined in  claim 30 , wherein said body member having substantially the same longitudinal length when said body member is in its first cross-sectional area and in its said second expanded cross-sectional area.  
     
     
         37 . The stent as defined in  claim 3   1 , wherein said body member having substantially the same longitudinal length when said body member is in its first cross-sectional area and in its said second expanded cross-sectional area.  
     
     
         38 . The stent as defined in  claim 32 , wherein said body member having substantially the same longitudinal length when said body member is in its first cross-sectional area and in its said second expanded cross-sectional area.  
     
     
         39 . The stent as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said first and second ends of said body member having a plurality of end regions, at least one of said end regions having a substantially smooth surface.  
     
     
         40 . The stent as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said body member is substantially tubular shaped.  
     
     
         41 . A biological matrix comprising a base compound and biological agent, said base compound including a polymer, copolymer or mixtures thereof, said base compound at least partially encapsulating at least a portion of said biological agent, said base compound including at least one radiation induced cross-linking, said at least one radiation induced cross-linking at least partially entrapping said biological agent in said base compound and/or forming a bond between said base compound and said biological agent.  
     
     
         42 . The biological matrix as defined in  claim 41 , including a plurality of biological agents.  
     
     
         43 . The biological matrix as defined in  claim 41 , wherein said base compound includes a plurality of a polymer, a copolymer, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         44 . The biological matrix as defined in  claim 41 , wherein said base compound and biological agent at least partially coated on a stent or other implant.  
     
     
         45 . The biological matrix as defined in  claim 41 , wherein said base compound and biological agent at least partially impregnated in a stent or other implant.  
     
     
         46 . The biological matrix as defined in  claim 41 , wherein said base compound and biological agent at least partially forming a part of a stent or other implant.  
     
     
         47 . The biological matrix as defined in  claim 41 , wherein said base compound at least partially encapsulating said biological agent.  
     
     
         48 . The biological matrix as defined in  claim 41 , wherein said base compound at least partially delays delivery of said biological agent into said body passageway.  
     
     
         49 . The biological matrix as defined in  claim 41 , wherein base compound forms a polymer salt complex with at least a portion of said biological agent.  
     
     
         50 . A method for producing an expandable stent coated with a biological agent comprising: 
 a) selecting a stent having a body member, said body member having a first cross-sectional area which permits delivery of said body member into a body passageway, and a second expanded cross-sectional area;    b) coating at least a portion of said body member with a mixture of a coating compound and a biological agent, said coating compound including polymer, copolymer and combinations thereof; and,    c) applying radiation to said coating to cause at least one cross-link to form in said coating compound.