Stent with silver coating and method

• US 5,976,169 A
• Filed: 11/30/1998
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: CardioVasc, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Imran, Mir A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DUDASH, DIANA L
• Application Number:
  US09/201,074
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: 427/2.1, 427/2.3, 427/2.28, 427/2.25, 607/116, 607/75, 604/265, 606/191, 606/194, 606/195, 606/198, 424/423, 623/1, 623/11
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• 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 2002/91541 Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/0052 Coating made of silver or Ag-based alloys

Abstract

A stent comprising a cylindrical member formed of metal and having a wall defining a bore extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis and having an inner surface and an outer surface. The wall has a pattern formed therein with openings extending therethrough into the bore. A coating containing silver is adherent to the outer surface of said wall for treatment of undesired conditions in the vessel.

Claims

1. A stent for use in a vessel formed of tissue comprising a cylindrical member formed of metal and having a wall defining a bore extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis, the wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, said wall having a pattern formed therein with openings extending therethrough into the bore and a coating containing silver adherent solely to the outer surface of said wall for forming a bimetallic coupling between the coating and the metal to create electromotive forces which drive silver ions into the surrounding tissue.

2. A stent as in claim 1 wherein said metal is stainless steel.

3. A stent as in claim 1 wherein said coating is a silver compound.

4. A stent as in claim 1 wherein said coating is pure silver.

5. A method for treating vessels formed of tissue and having a stent therein formed of metal and having a wall defining a bore extending therethrough and having an inner surface and an outer surface, said wall having a pattern formed therein with openings therein extending into the bore, comprising the step of coating solely the outer surface of the cylindrical member with a coating containing silver for producing silver ions for the treatment of undesired conditions within the vessel and for creating a bimetallic coupling between the silver and the metal to thereby create electromotive forces for driving silver ions into the surrounding tissue.