Drug-impregnated encasement

Abstract

A drug-impregnated sleeve for encasing a medical implant is provided. In one embodiment, the sleeve may include a body made of a biologically-compatible material that defines an internal cavity configured to receive the medical implant. In one embodiment, the biologically-compatible material is bioresorbable. The body may include a plurality of apertures, such as perforations or holes, extending from the cavity through the body. The sleeve may further include a first end, a second end, and a drug impregnated into the resorbable sheet. In one possible embodiment, the first end of the sleeve may be open for receiving the medical implant therethrough and the second end may be closed. The implant may be encased in the sleeve and implanted into a patient from which the drug is dispensed in vivo over time to tissue surrounding the implantation site. In one embodiment, the body is made from at least one sheet of a biologically-compatible material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A biologically-compatible sleeve comprising:
 a body made of a biologically-compatible material and defining an internal cavity configured to receive a medical implant, the body including a plurality of apertures extending from the cavity through the body;   a first end;   a second end; and   a drug impregnated into the material.