Implantable medical device having biologically active polymeric casing

• US 20030204229A1
• Filed: 04/25/2002
• Published: 10/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Stokes, Kenneth B.
• Granted Patent: US 6,968,234 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/112 Phosphorus-containing compounds, e.g. phosphates, phosphonates
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/204 with nitrogen-containing functional groups, e.g. aminoxides, nitriles, guanidines
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/22 Lipids, fatty acids, e.g. prostaglandins, oils, fats, waxes
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/25 Peptides having up to 20 amino acids in a defined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/402 Anaestetics, analgesics, e.g. lidocaine
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/404 Biocides, antimicrobial agents, antiseptic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/41 Anti-inflammatory agents, e.g. NSAIDs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/45 Mixtures of two or more drugs, e.g. synergistic mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/802 Additives, excipients, e.g. cyclodextrins, fatty acids, surfactants
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/34 Macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/54 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L27/227 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence

Abstract

An implantable medical device has a medical unit, such as a pacemaker lead, and a casing at least partially enclosing the medical unit. The casing is formed of a base polymer such as a polyurethane, a polyurethane copolymer, a fluoropolymer and a polyolefin or a silicone rubber. The casing has biologically active agents covalently bonded to the base polymer. The biologically active agents can be attached to the base polymer as surface active end groups. As an alternative, the biologically active may be attached to a backbone the base polymer. As yet a further alternative, the biologically active agents may be attached to surface modifying end groups, which are in turn attached to the base polymer. Examples of suitable biologically active agents are microbial peptide agents, detergents, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cations, amine-containing organosilicones, diphosphonates, fatty acids and fatty acid salts.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a medical unit; and

a casing at least partially enclosing the medical unit, the casing being formed of a base polymer selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyurethane copolymers, fluoropolymers, polyolefins, epoxies and silicone rubbers,

the casing having polyethylene oxide surface modifying end groups covalently bonded to the base polymer,

the casing having and biologically active agents attached to the surface modifying end groups, the biologically active agents being selected from the group consisting of microbial peptide agents, antimicrobials, antibiotics, detergents, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cations, amine-containing organosilicones, diphosphonates, fatty acids and fatty acid salts.

2. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a medical unit; and

a casing at least partially enclosing the medical unit, the casing being formed of a base polymer and biologically modifying agents attached to the base polymer as surface active end groups.

3. An implantable medical device according to claim 2, wherein the biologically active agents are selected from the group consisting of microbial peptide agents, antimicrobials, detergents, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cations, amine-containing organosilicones, diphosphonates, fatty acids and fatty acid salts.

4. An implantable medical device according to claim 2, wherein the medical unit is a pacemaker lead.

5. An implantable medical device according to claim 2, wherein the base polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyurethane copolymers, epoxies, fluoropolymers, polyolefins and silicone rubbers.

6. An implantable medical device according to claim 2, wherein

the medical unit contains a shell having an outer surface, and

the casing is formed on the outer surface of the shell.

7. An implantable medical device according to claim 2, wherein at least two different biologically active agents are attached to the base polymer.

8. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a medical unit; and

a casing at least partially enclosing the medical unit, the casing being formed of a base polymer and biologically active agents attached to a backbone of the base polymer.

9. An implantable medical device according to claim 8, wherein the biologically active agents are selected from the group consisting of microbial peptide agents, antimicrobials, antibiotics, detergents, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cations, amine-containing organosilicones, diphosphonates, fatty acids and fatty acid salts.

10. An implantable medical device according to claim 8, wherein the medical unit is a pacemaker lead.

11. An implantable medical device according to claim 8, wherein the base polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyurethane copolymers, fluoropolymers, polyolefins, epoxies and silicone rubbers.

12. An implantable medical device according to claim 8, wherein

the medical unit contains a shell having an outer surface, and

the casing is formed on the outer surface of the shell.

13. An implantable medical device according to claim 8, wherein at least two different biologically active agents are attached to the backbone of the base polymer.

14. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a medical unit; and

a casing at least partially enclosing the medical unit, the casing being formed of a base polymer having surface modifying end groups, the casing having biologically modifying agents attached to the surface modifying end groups.

15. An implantable medical device according to claim 14, wherein the biologically active agents are selected from the group consisting of microbial peptide agents, antimicrobials, antibiotics, detergents, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cations, amine-containing organosilicones, diphosphonates, fatty acids and fatty acid salts.

16. An implantable medical device according to claim 14, wherein the medical unit is a pacemaker lead.

17. An implantable medical device according to claim 14, wherein the base polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyurethane copolymers, fluoropolymers, polyolefins, epoxies and silicone rubbers.

18. An implantable medical device according to claim 14, wherein

the medical unit contains a shell having an outer surface, and

the casing is formed on the outer surface of the shell.

19. An implantable medical device according to claim 14, wherein the surface modifying end groups are selected from the group consisting of fluoropolymers and fatty acids.

20. An implantable medical device according to claim 14, wherein the surface modifying end groups are selected from the group consisting of oleic acid and linoleic acid.

21. An implantable medical device according to claim 14, wherein the surface modifying end groups are polyethylene oxides.

22. An implantable medical device according to claim 14, wherein at least two different biologically active agents are attached to the surface modifying end groups.