Biodegradable drug delivery vascular stent

• US 5,464,450 A
• Filed: 03/21/1994
• Issued: 11/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Wang, Lixiao, Buscemi, Paul J., Stejskal, Elizabeth A., Palme, Donald F. II
• Primary Examiner(s): BRITTINGHAM, DEBRA
• Application Number:
  US08/215,206
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1, 623/11, 623/12, 606/191-200, 606/151-158, 600/36, 604/890.1, 604/891.1, 604/8, 604/104
• US Class Current: 623/1.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0023 operated at different temperatures whilst inside or touching the human body, heated or cooled by external energy source or cold supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/604 Biodegradation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/148 Materials at least partially resorbable by the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/16 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L31/047 takes precedence

Abstract

A stent made of biodegradable material includes a drug that is released at a rate controlled by the rate of degradation of the biodegradable material. The stent includes a main body of a generally tubular shape. The main body may further include a plurality of apertures extending therethrough and a slot defined by opposing edges which permits insertion and positioning of the stent.

Claims

1. A biodegradable self-expanding stent for insertion into a lumen of a vessel of a living being, the stent being substantially completely biodegradable the stent comprising:

(a) a generally tubular biodegradable main body surrounded by an array consisting of individual biodegradable materials having individual rates of degradation, the individual biodegradable materials contain a plurality of drugs, said drugs being released into the lumen of the vessel as the biodegradable materials degrade, at rates controlled by the rates of degradation of the biodegradable materials;

(b) said tubular main body including a slot extending lengthwise through the main body and defined by opposing edges of the main body wherein the opposing edges must be moved toward each other under compression in order to transport the biodegradable stent through a vessel of a living being; and

said array being annularly aligned oriented fibers disposed about and attached to said tubular main body and so oriented to provide a self-expanding, spring force in an outward, substantially radial direction to increase the effective diameter of said main body.

2. The stent of claim 1 wherein the tubular biodegradable main body includes a plurality of layers made from art array consisting of individual biodegradable materials that degrade at different rates.

3. The biodegradable stent of claim 1 wherein the tubular biodegradable main body includes:

an outer surface having a generally tubular shape for contacting tissue of a vessel when the main body is placed in a living being; and

a plurality of apertures extending through the main body.

4. A biodegradable, self-expanding stent for insertion into the lumen of a vessel of a living being, the stent being substantially completely biodegradable the stent comprising:

(a) a generally tubular biodegradable main body surrounded by an array consisting of individual biodegradable materials that degrade at different rates, said individual biodegradable materials containing a plurality of drugs, said drugs being released into the vessel lumen as the biodegradable materials degrade, said tubular body having an outer surface of generally tubular shape for contacting tissue of a vessel said array comprising annularly aligned oriented fibers disposed about and attached to said tubular main body and so oriented to provide a self-expanding, spring force in an outward, substantially radial direction to increase the effective diameter of said main body;

(b) a slot extending lengthwise through the main body and defined by opposing edges of the main body wherein the opposing edges must be moved toward each other under compression in order to transport the biodegradable stent through a vessel of a living being, said slot allowing compression of the main body to decrease its diameter; and

(c) a plurality of apertures extending through the main body.

5. The biodegradable stent of claim 4 wherein the fiber shape of the biodegradable materials is a hollow fiber shape and drugs are incorporated in the biodegradable materials enclosed within the hollow fiber shape.