Methods of coating an implantable device having depots formed in a surface thereof
First Claim
1. A method of depositing a polymer into a plurality of depots formed in an outer surface of a stent comprising:
- applying a composition comprising a polymer and a solvent to said plurality of depots, wherein said act of applying said composition is performed at a first gas pressure;
applying a second gas pressure to said composition in said depots, wherein said second gas pressure is greater than said first gas pressure and less than the pressure which causes phase separation or precipitation of said polymer in said composition, and wherein said second gas pressure is sufficient to remove air pockets from said composition in said depots; and
removing said solvent from said composition, wherein a polymeric deposit is formed substantially free from air pockets in said depots of said stent.
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Abstract
The present invention provides methods of coating an implantable device, such as a stent or a graft, having a plurality of depots formed in a surface thereof. An exemplary method includes applying a composition including a polymer and a solvent to the implantable device proximate to the depots. Such application of the composition is performed at a first gas pressure. The method also includes applying a second gas pressure, which is greater than the first gas pressure, to the composition-coated device so that air pockets in the depots are eliminated, or at least reduced in size. The method also includes the act of removing the solvent from the composition to form a coating. An implantable device coated in accordance with the method is also provided.
The compositions employed in the methods may include one or more therapeutic substances such as antineoplastics, antimitotics, antiinflammatories, antiplatelets, anticoagulants, antifibrins, antithrombins, antiproliferatives, antibiotics, antioxidants, antiallergics, radioisotopes, and combinations thereof.
833 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of depositing a polymer into a plurality of depots formed in an outer surface of a stent comprising:
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applying a composition comprising a polymer and a solvent to said plurality of depots, wherein said act of applying said composition is performed at a first gas pressure;
applying a second gas pressure to said composition in said depots, wherein said second gas pressure is greater than said first gas pressure and less than the pressure which causes phase separation or precipitation of said polymer in said composition, and wherein said second gas pressure is sufficient to remove air pockets from said composition in said depots; and
removing said solvent from said composition, wherein a polymeric deposit is formed substantially free from air pockets in said depots of said stent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of loading a substance into a plurality of depots of a stent comprising:
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applying a composition including a polymer and a solvent to said depots, said composition having a polymer content between about 0.5% and 20% by weight, and wherein said act of applying said composition is performed at a first gas pressure of at least atmospheric pressure;
placing the stent in a sealable pressure chamber; and
applying a second gas pressure to said composition, said second gas pressure being a gauge pressure of about 29.4 PSI to about 58.8 PSI, wherein said second gas pressure is greater than said first gas pressure and less than the pressure which causes phase separation or precipitation of said polymer in said composition and is sufficient to remove air pockets from said composition in said depots. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of depositing a substance in depots of an implantable device, comprising:
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applying said substance in a liquid carrier to said device wherein said substance and said liquid carrier are allowed to penetrate into said depots;
placing said device in a sealable pressure chamber;
applying a first pressure greater than atmospheric pressure to said device so as to significantly reduce the size of the air pockets in said depots;
removing said liquid carrier from said device while applying a second pressure greater than atmospheric pressure to maintain the reduced size of the air pockets; and
applying a third pressure to said device subsequent to said removal of said liquid carrier wherein said third pressure is less than said first and second pressures. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of depositing a substance in depots of a stent, comprising:
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applying a composition including a substance to said stent wherein said composition penetrates into said depots of said stent; and
applying a pressure to said composition to essentially remove air pockets or reduce the size of air pockets from said composition in said depots, wherein said pressure does not cause phase separation or precipitation of said substance in said composition in said depots of said stent. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of depositing a substance in depots of an implantable device, comprising:
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applying said substance in a liquid carrier to said device wherein said substance and said liquid carrier are allowed to penetrate into said depots;
placing said device in a sealable pressure chamber;
applying a first pressure to said device so as to significantly eliminate or reduce the size of the air pockets in said depots;
removing said liquid carrier from said device; and
applying a second pressure to said device subsequent to said removal of said liquid carrier wherein said second pressure is less than said first pressure.
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Specification