Luminal prostheses and methods for coating thereof

Abstract

Luminal prostheses comprise scaffolds having coatings adhered to at least a portion of their outer surfaces. The surfaces are modified to enhance binding of the coatings. For example, the surfaces may be microblasted, laser treated, chemically etched, exposed to plasma, or exposed to a corona discharge, allowing a polymeric coating to adhere to the scaffold more tightly than in the absence of the surface modification. The coatings can be used to deliver therapeutic or other agents dispersed therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A luminal prosthesis comprising:
 a scaffold adapted to be radially deformed in a body lumen, said scaffold having an outer surface region and undergoing strain when the scaffold is deformed, wherein the surface region is modified; and   a coating deposited over the surface region, wherein the coating interacts with the modified surface region to have an adherence greater than adherence in the absence of the surface modification.