Surgical stent and method for preventing occlusion of stented vessels and conduits after implantation of stents

Abstract

The invention is of the design for, and a method of use of, an improved surgical stent. The stent is coated with a slow-release calcium channel blocker agent which interrupts the accumulation or deposition of fibrotic tissue as occurs in the process of re-occlusion of the vessel, orifice, or conduit as attends the use of conventional stents.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A coated stent for implantation in human vessels, orifices and conduits comprising for creating and sustaining openings there and for preventing re-occlusion thereof after implantation comprising: 
 a stent superstructure;    a biodegradable carrier material applied to said stent superstructure to form a coating thereof;    a calcium channel blocker agent carried by said biodegradable carrier material.    
     
     
         2 . The stent of  claim 1  wherein said calcium channel blocker agent is verapamil.  
     
     
         3 . A method for providing a re-occlusion resistant stent implantation to a human patient comprising the steps of: 
 selecting coated stent for implantation in human vessels, orifices and conduits comprising for creating and sustaining openings there and for preventing re-occlusion thereof after implantation, said stent comprising: 
 a stent superstructure;  
 a biodegradable carrier material applied to said stent superstructure to form a coating thereof;  
 a calcium channel blocker agent carried by said biodegradable carrier material; and  
   implanting said coated stent into a human vessel, orifice or conduit.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said calcium channel blocker agent is verapamil.