Remote activation of an implantable device

• US 20070191937A1
• Filed: 04/09/2007
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Hossainy, Syed
• Application Number:
  US11/784,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20070191937A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.42
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/915 with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91575 connected peak to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0068 the pharmaceutical product being in a reservoir

Abstract

The invention is directed to an implantable device, such as a stent, for delivering a therapeutic substance. The device includes a reservoir containing a therapeutic substance and an energy converter to cause the release of the substance.

Claims

1. A method of delivering a therapeutic substance from a stent in a body vessel comprising:

inserting into a body vessel a stent comprising a first material containing a therapeutic substance and a second material capable of converting a first type of energy to a second type of energy; and

applying to the second material a first type of energy from an energy source external to the body vessel wherein the second material converts the first type of energy to the second type of energy and the second type of energy promotes the release of the therapeutic substance from the first material.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second material is selected from the group consisting of Au, Au-alloy, Au having a silica core, and ferromagnetic glass-ceramic.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second type of energy is thermal energy.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second material is disposed in depots positioned on the surface of the stent or the second material is connected to the surface of the stent.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the stent further comprises a topcoat deposited over at least a portion of the first material.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second material comprises Au particles having a nanoparticle core.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the stent further comprises a third material carried by the stent to convert a third type of energy received by the third material from an energy source positioned external to the body vessel to a fourth type of energy, wherein the fourth type of energy promotes release of the therapeutic substance from the first material.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first and third types of energy are electromagnetic energy, and wherein the electromagnetic energy of the first energy type has a different wavelength than the third energy type.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first type of energy is non-cytotoxic electromagnetic waves.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second material is capable of converting electromagnetic waves with wavelengths between 800 and 1200 nm into thermal energy.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first material is a temperature-sensitive hydrogel.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the temperature-sensitive hydrogel is in thermal communication with the second material.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the temperature-sensitive hydrogel is selected from the group consisting of N-isopropylacrylamide, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymers, poly(acrylic acid) grafted pluronic copolymers, chitosan grafted pluronic copolymer, elastin mimetic polypeptides, and combinations and mixtures thereof.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is external to the body of the patient.