Methods and devices having electrically actuatable surfaces
First Claim
1. A medical device comprising a surface region that is electrically actuatable between a hydrophobic state and a less hydrophobic state or a hydrophilic state, said medical device being an implantable or insertable medical device.
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Abstract
The present invention generally relates to the field of insertable or implantable medical devices, such as balloon catheters, stents and other similar diagnostic or therapeutic devices which may be provided within the body for treatment and/or diagnosis of diseases and conditions. In particular, the present invention relates to devices whose surfaces are electrically actuatable between a hydrophobic state and a less hydrophobic state or a hydrophilic state. Such devices include drug-eluting devices such as balloon catheters and stents which release therapeutic agents upon the application of an electric field. Such devices further include devices such as balloon catheters and stents whose lubricity may be modulated in situ by the application of an electric field.
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Citations
30 Claims
- 1. A medical device comprising a surface region that is electrically actuatable between a hydrophobic state and a less hydrophobic state or a hydrophilic state, said medical device being an implantable or insertable medical device.
Specification