METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL FORMATION OF THERAPEUTIC SPECIES IN VIVO

• US 20100233237A1
• Filed: 05/21/2010
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Remon Medical Technologies Ltd. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Remon Medical Technologies Ltd. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Gileadi, Eilezer, Penner, Avi
• Granted Patent: US 8,303,643 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/423
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/6957 the form being a device or a kit, e.g. stents or microdevices

Abstract

A device and method are provided for spontaneous electrochemical production of therapeutic species, in vivo. An active metal is implanted in the tissue. The metal undergoes corrosion, thus acting as a reducing agent to constituents in the tissue, so as to cause these constituents to form the therapeutic agents.

Claims

1-127. -127. (canceled)

128. A stent adapted to be implanted in a blood vessel comprising:

an active metal adapted to corrode when implanted in the blood vessel, the active metal comprising zinc or iron; and

a biologically inert metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, iridium, gold, and alloys thereof.

129. The stent of claim 128, wherein the active metal comprises zinc.

130. The stent of claim 128, wherein the active metal comprises iron.

131. The stent of claim 128, wherein the biologically inert metal comprises platinum.

132. The stent of claim 128, wherein the biologically inert metal comprises palladium.

133. The stent of claim 128, wherein the biologically inert metal comprises gold.

134. The stent of claim 128, wherein the active metal acts as an anode and the biologically inert metal acts as a cathode when the stent is implanted within a blood vessel.

135. The stent of claim 134, wherein the active metal and the biologically inert metal are both directly exposed to the flow of body fluid in a blood vessel when the stent is implanted in a blood vessel.

136. The stent of claim 128, wherein the stent comprises a body of the biologically inert metal and a coating of the active metal.

137. The stent of claim 136, wherein the coating of the active metal is a partial coating such that the active metal acts as an anode and uncoated portions of the body act as a cathode.

138. The stent of claim 137, wherein the uncoated portions of the body are upstream of the coated portions of the body.

139. The stent of claim 128, wherein the active metal is adapted to electrochemically convert, in a body fluid stream environment, at least one substance present in the body fluid into a therapeutic agent.

140. The stent of claim 139, wherein the at least one substance is a normal body fluid constituent.

141. The stent of claim 140, wherein the normal body fluid constituent is selected from the group consisting of water, molecular oxygen, nitrite and nitrite ions and L-arginine.

142. The stent of claim 139, wherein the at least one substance is a substance administered to the body.

143. The stent of claim 142, wherein the at least one substance is selected from the group consisting of nitrite ions, nitrate ions, and a combination thereof.

144. The stent of claim 139, wherein the therapeutic agent is an oxidizing agent.

145. The stent of claim 139, wherein the therapeutic agent is the vasodilating agent, nitric oxide.

146. A stent adapted to be implanted in a blood vessel comprising:

an active metal adapted to corrode when implanted in the blood vessel, the active metal comprising iron; and

a biologically inert metal selected from the group consisting of palladium and alloys thereof.