Modification of polymer stents with radiation

• US 7,794,776 B1
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Gale, David C., Limon, Timothy A., Hossainy, Syed Faiyaz Ahmed, Tang, Fuh-Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): Meeks; Timothy H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sellman; Cachet I
• Application Number:
  US11/478,974
• Time in Patent Office: 1,538 Days
• Field of Search: 427/2.1, 427/2.21, 427/2.24, 427/2.25, 427/487, 427/493, 427/496, 427/508, 427/532, 427/551, 427/553, 427/557, 623/1.11, 623/1.42
• US Class Current: 427/2.1
• 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 2250/003 differing in adsorbability or resorbability, i.e. in adsorption or resorption time
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 3/061 using U.V.
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 3/068 using ionising radiations (gamma, X, electrons)
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 5/00 Processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces to obtain special surface effects, finishes or structures
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 71/04 by wave energy or particle radiation , e.g. for curing or vulcanising preformed articles during moulding, e.g. in a mould B29C35/08
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 7/123 Treatment by wave energy or particle radiation C08J7/18 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods of modifying properties such as degradation rate and drug release rate of polymer stents with radiation are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of modifying a stent comprising:

selecting a desired drug release rate or a degradation rate for a polymer on a stent surface; and

exposing the stent to a dose of radiation capable of modifying the molecular weight of the polymer on the stent, wherein the dose modifies the molecular weight of the polymer to obtain the selected drug release rate or degradation rate,

wherein the polymer comprises a polyester amide coating having a drug mixed or dispersed within the coating.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation is selected from the group consisting of e-beam, ion beam, x-ray, laser, and ultraviolet.

3. A method of modifying a stent, comprising:

selectively exposing a selected region of a surface of a stent including a polymer to a dose of radiation capable of modifying the molecular weight of the polymer, the dose of radiation modifying a property of the polymer, wherein the polymer is contained in a coating over a stent substrate, wherein the polymer is polyester amide with a drug mixed or dispersed within the coating.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the selected region comprise curved portions or straight portions of a scaffolding of the stent.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein radiation is selected from the group consisting of e-beam, ion beam, x-ray, laser, and ultraviolet.