Sacrificial anode stent system

Abstract

A sacrificial anode stent system comprises a stent having at least one sacrificial anode portion and a vaso-occlusive device. The vaso-occlusive device has at least one portion with a potential different from that of the sacrificial anode portion of the stent.

1 . A sacrificial anode stent system comprising: 
 a) a stent having at least one sacrificial anode portion and    b) a vaso-occlusive device, 
 the vaso-occlusive device having at least one portion with a potential different from that of the sacrificial anode portion of the stent.  
   
     
     
         2 . The sacrificial anode stent system of  claim 1  wherein said sacrificial anode portion is at a proximal or distal end of the stent.  
     
     
         3 . The sacrificial anode stent system of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of sacrificial anode portions.  
     
     
         4 . The sacrificial anode stent system of  claim 1  comprising a plurality of sacrificial anode portions wherein said sacrificial anode portions are at a proximal and/or distal end of the stent.  
     
     
         5 . The sacrificial anode stent system of  claim 1  comprising a plurality of sacrificial anode portions, the sacrificial anode portions provided in the form of tabs extending from or both ends of the stent.  
     
     
         6 . The sacrificial anode stent system of  claim 1  wherein the stent further comprises radiopaque portions.  
     
     
         7 . The sacrificial anode stent system of  claim 6  comprising a plurality of sacrificial anode portions, the sacrificial anode portions and the radiopaque portions provided in the form of tabs extending from or both ends of the stent.  
     
     
         8 . The sacrificial anode stent system of  claim 1  wherein the vaso-occlusive device is in the form of a coil.  
     
     
         9 . The sacrificial anode stent system of  claim 1  wherein the vaso-occlusive device is in the form of a GDC coil.  
     
     
         10 . The medical device of  claim 8  wherein the coil includes platinum and the non-sacrificial portion of the stent includes stainless steel.  
     
     
         11 . The medical device of  claim 10  wherein the sacrificial portion is selected from the group consisting of magnesium, zinc, aluminum, mild steel, low alloy steel, and iron or any combination thereof.  
     
     
         12 . A sacrificial anode stent system comprising: 
 a) a stent and    b) a medical device, 
 the stent and the medical device each having at least one metal portion, the metal portion of the stent having a potential different from that of the medical device, wherein one of the stent and the medical device includes a sacrificial portion of a different potential from that of the remainder of the stent or medical device, the potential of the sacrificial portion such that corrosion occurs preferentially at the sacrificial portion.  
   
     
     
         13 . The sacrificial anode stent system of  claim 12  wherein the medical device is a coil and the sacrificial portion is part of the stent.  
     
     
         14 . The sacrificial anode stent system of  claim 13  wherein the coil includes platinum and the non-sacrificial portion of the stent includes stainless steel.  
     
     
         15 . The sacrificial anode stent system of  claim 14  wherein the sacrificial portion is selected from the group consisting of magnesium, zinc, aluminum, mild steel, low alloy steel, and iron or any combination thereof.  
     
     
         16 . A stent including at least one sacrificial anode portion.  
     
     
         17 . The stent of  claim 16 , wherein said sacrificial anode portion is connected to said stent proximate to said proximal end.  
     
     
         18 . The stent of  claim 16 , wherein said sacrificial anode portion is connected to said stent proximate to said distal end.  
     
     
         19 . The stent of  claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of sacrificial anode portions connected to said stent.  
     
     
         20 . The stent of  claim 19 , wherein said sacrificial anode portions are connected to said stent proximate to said proximal end.  
     
     
         21 . The stent of  claim 19 , wherein said sacrificial anode portions are connected to said stent proximate to said distal end.  
     
     
         22 . The stent of  claim 16 , wherein or more regions of the stent are radiopaque.  
     
     
         23 . The stent of  claim 16  wherein the sacrificial anode portions are characterized by a higher potential than that of the remainder of the stent.  
     
     
         24 . The stent of  claim 16  wherein the sacrificial anode portion is in the form of one or more tabs extending from a proximal or distal end of the stent.