Methods and Devices for Delivering Therapeutic Agents to Target Vessels

Abstract

The present disclosure pertains to stents having a coating applied thereto, wherein the coating comprises a biocompatible polymer/drug mixture, as well as devices comprising a metallic stent, a biocompatible polymeric carrier and a drug.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A stent comprising a plurality of generally solid struts, at least one of the struts comprising a micropore formed therein,
 at least one of the struts having a coating applied thereto, the coating comprising a biocompatible polymer/drug mixture, wherein the polymer is a nonabsorbable polymer and the drug is sirolimus.   
     
     
         2 . The stent according to  claim 1  wherein the drug is contained in the coating in a weight percentage of about 30%. 
     
     
         3 . The stent according to  claim 1  comprising a generally thin walled cylinder. 
     
     
         4 . The stent according to  claim 1  further comprising a channel formed in at least one of said struts. 
     
     
         5 . The stent according to  claim 4 , wherein said channel has a closed perimeter on all sides, an open top and a generally rectangular perimeter, and said channel is smaller in all dimensions than said strut. 
     
     
         6 . The stent according to  claim 1  wherein the coating is dip-coated onto the stent. 
     
     
         7 . The stent according to  claim 1  wherein the coating is spray-coated onto the stent. 
     
     
         8 . The stent according to  claim 1  wherein the coating comprises a polydimethylsiloxane; a poly(ethylene)vinylacetate; a poly(hydroxy)ethylmethylmethacrylate; an acrylate based polymer; an acrylate based copolymer; a polyvinyl pyrrolidone; a cellulose ester; a fluorinated polymer; or a blend thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The stent according to  claim 8  wherein the coating comprises a fluorinated polymer. 
     
     
         10 . The stent according to  claim 1  that provides a controlled release of said sirolimus over a period of several weeks. 
     
     
         11 . The stent according to  claim 1  wherein said sirolimus is present in a therapeutically beneficial amount to inhibit neointimal proliferation. 
     
     
         12 . A device comprising:
 a metallic stent that comprises a plurality of struts, at least one of the struts having a micropore formed therein; and,   a biocompatible polymeric carrier and a drug that are present in a weight ratio of about 7:3,   wherein the polymer is a nonabsorbable polymer, and the drug is sirolimus and is present in an amount effective to inhibit neointimal proliferation.   
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 12  wherein said polymeric carrier and drug are mixed together. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 12  wherein said polymeric carrier is bound to the drug. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 12  wherein the drug is entrapped on the surface of the stent by said polymeric carrier. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 12  wherein the polymeric carrier and drug are applied to at least one of the struts. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 12  further comprising a channel formed in at least one of said struts. 
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 17 , wherein said channel has a closed perimeter on all sides, an open top and a generally rectangular perimeter, and said channel is smaller in all dimensions than said strut. 
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 12  wherein the polymeric carrier and drug are dip-coated onto the stent. 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 12  wherein the polymeric carrier and drug are spray-coated onto the stent. 
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 12  wherein the polymeric carrier comprises-a polydimethylsiloxane; a poly(ethylene)vinylacetate; a poly(hydroxy)ethylmethylmethacrylate; an acrylate based polymer; an acrylate based copolymer; a polyvinyl pyrrolidone; a cellulose ester; a fluorinated polymer; or a blend thereof 
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 12  wherein the polymeric carrier comprises a fluorinated polymer. 
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 12  that provides a controlled release of said sirolimus over a period of several weeks.