Stent having an ultrasonic emitter

• US 7,563,279 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2005
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation For Scientific Research
• Original Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation For Scientific Research
• Inventors: Lasater, Brian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sweet; Thomas J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stroud; Jonathan R
• Application Number:
  US11/157,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20060287597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 623/1.43
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22002 preventing restenosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/86 Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants

Abstract

A system and method that minimizes plaque accumulation on a stent and thereby restenosis that could require a subsequent invasive medical procedure following stent implantation. The stent, essentially an expandable wire mesh tube comprised of a plurality of integral lattice portions, configured for expansion within a blood vessel of a patient, is formed with an electrically-controlled, biocompatible device as one of its integral lattice portions. In a first implementation, the biocompatible device is under control of an externally-positioned controller which causes the device to emit an ultrasonic wave at a frequency corresponding to the mechanical resonance of the stent and thereby minimize accumulation of plaque. In a second or supplemental implementation, the device is or other portions of the stent are coated with a drug that can be controllably eluted by passing a current through the coating under control of the biocompatible device and the externally-positioned controller.

Claims

1. A stent for preventing restenosis following placement in a vessel of a patient, said stent comprising:

an expandable wire mesh tube comprised of a plurality of integral lattice portions and configured for expansion within the blood vessel of the patient;

an electrically-powered biocompatible device proximate at least one of said integral lattice portions wherein said biocompatible device is comprised of;

a controller within said biocompatible device responsive to an externally-provided command signal; and

an ultrasonic emitter within said biocompatible device coupled to said controller for emitting an ultrasonic wave to induce mechanical vibrations in said wire mesh to thereby minimize forming plaque on said stent;

said biocompatible device including a power receiving structure for producing a voltage to power said controller and said ultrasonic emitter in response to an externally-provided AC magnetic field.

2. A stent for preventing restenosis following placement in a vessel of a patient, said stent comprising:

an expandable wire mesh tube comprised of a plurality of integral lattice portions and configured for expansion within the blood vessel of the patient;

an electrically-powered biocompatible device proximate at least one of said integral lattice portions wherein said biocompatible device is comprised of;

a controller within said biocompatible device responsive to an externally-provided command signal; and

an ultrasonic emitter within said biocompatible device coupled to said controller for emitting an ultrasonic wave to induce mechanical vibrations in said wire mesh to thereby minimize forming plaque on said stent;

said biocompatible device including a power receiving structure for producing a voltage to rower said controller and said ultrasonic emitter in response to an externally-provided AC magnetic field; and

wherein said externally-provided AC magnetic field is amplitude modulated with said externally-provided command signal and said biocompatible device includes a receiving portion for responding to said command signal directed to said biocompatible device.

3. A stent for preventing restenosis following placement in a vessel of a patient, said stent comprising:

an expandable wire mesh tube comprised of a plurality of integral lattice portions and configured for expansion within the blood vessel of the patient;

an electrically-powered biocompatible device proximate at least one of said integral lattice portions wherein said biocompatible device is comprised of;

a controller within said biocompatible device responsive to an externally-provided command signal;

an ultrasonic emitter within said biocompatible device coupled to said controller for emitting an ultrasonic wave to induce mechanical vibrations in said wire mesh to thereby minimize forming plaque on said stent;

said biocompatible device including a power receiving structure for producing a voltage to power said controller and said ultrasonic emitter in response to an externally-provided AC magnetic field;

said externally-provided AC magnetic field amplitude modulated with said externally-provided command signal and said biocompatible device including a receiving portion for responding to said command signal directed to said biocompatible device; and

wherein said command signal includes instructions to determine parameters of said ultrasonic wave selected from the set of the frequency and the amplitude of said ultrasonic wave.