Abstract: An implantable or insertable medical device is provided which includes as components: (a) a substrate component comprising a depression that is at least partially filled with a therapeutic agent-containing material that comprises a first therapeutic agent, and (b) a particulate composition disposed in the depression such that it regulates transport of chemical species between the depression and the exterior of the device upon implantation or insertion of the device into a subject.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention a method is provided which a porous medical article is contacted with a solution that contains a therapeutic agent and a solvent in order to load the pores of the medical article, after which the solvent is sublimated.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to an implantable medical device for delivering a therapeutic agent to the body tissue of a patient, and a method for making such a medical device. In particular, the invention pertains to an implantable stent, such as an intravascular stent, having a coating comprising an inorganic or ceramic oxide, metal or inert carbon and a plurality of reservoirs in such material that contain a therapeutic agent.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to implantable medical devices for delivering therapeutic agents to the body tissue of a patient and methods for making such medical devices. In particular, the present invention is directed to implantable medical devices, such as intravascular stents, having a surface that includes a plurality of cavities and a plurality of pores and a composition disposed in the pores and/or cavities, as well as, implantable medical devices, such as intravascular stents, having a surface that has a coating composition disposed on the surface, wherein the coating composition includes a plurality of cavities and a plurality of pores and another coating composition disposed in the pores and/or cavities.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to a medical device for delivering a therapeutic agent to the body tissue of a patient, and methods for making such a medical device. More particularly, the invention is directed to a stent, such as an intravascular stent, having an inner and outer coating compositions disposed thereon. In another embodiment, the inner coating composition and outer coating composition are separated by a barrier coating composition.

Abstract: A medical device including at least one reservoir, adapted to contain a material, such as a therapeutic agent, and sealed by a cover. The reservoir is openable, so as to release the material, for example, by (i) disintegration of the cover, (ii) movement of the cover to an open position, and/or (iii) a change of composition or properties of the cover allowing the material to pass therethrough. The power required to open the reservoir is provied by a current induced in a coil associated with the medical device by a change in magnetic flux in the area of the medical device.

Abstract: A device is provided comprising an inflatable surface with nanotubes disposed on the inflatable surface. The device may be a balloon-type catheter, with the inflatable surface comprising a balloon with nanotubes disposed on the surface. When used as a balloon catheter, the device may be used to deposit material on or transplant material to the surface of an implanted medical device such as a stent implanted in the body of a patient.

Abstract: A medical device for delivering a therapeutic agent is described comprising a stent comprising a sidewall and a plurality of struts, wherein at least one strut or strut portion comprises at least one node, wherein the expansion of the stent creates at least one web comprising a coating composition having a therapeutic agent, and wherein at least one node is configured to be associated with at least one web. A method for delivering a therapeutic agent to a body site is also described.

Abstract: A system for reducing the diameter of a stent comprises a stent contracting assembly. The assembly comprises a plurality of blades, which define a diameter reduction chamber. The chamber has an open diameter configuration and a closed diameter configuration. The plurality of blades comprises active blades and floating blades, wherein each active blade is engaged to an actuation mechanism. The actuation mechanism is constructed and arranged to move each active blade from the open diameter configuration to the closed diameter configuration. Each floating blade is moved from the open diameter configuration to the closed diameter configuration only as a result of the movement of the active blades.

Abstract: A method of coating a medical appliance is provided that includes contacting a coating material with a first side of a mesh nebulizer. The mesh nebulizer includes at least one aperture. The method also includes vibrating the mesh nebulizer and arranging the medical appliance in a region of a second side of the mesh nebulizer. The second side is opposite the first side. A medical appliance is provided having a coating applied by a method. A system is provided for coating a medical appliance that includes a coating source, a mesh nebulizer, an arrangement for vibrating the mesh nebulizer, and an arrangement for holding the medical appliance. A method is provided of coating a medical appliance that includes directing at least two small aperture tubes at a collision region and forcing a coating material out of the apertures of the tubes. The method also includes arranging the medical appliance in another region adjacent to the collision region.

Abstract: A method of coating a medical device is provided that includes contacting a solution with a first side of a mesh nebulizer and vibrating the mesh nebulizer. The solution including a material. The mesh nebulizer includes at least one aperture. The method also includes evaporating a solvent from the solution in a region of a second side of the mesh nebulizer that is opposite the first side. The evaporating operation forms the particle of the material. The method also include contacting the particle with the medical device. A medical appliance is provided having a coating applied by a method. A system for creating a plurality of particles is provided.

Abstract: A method and device for coating a medical device, such as a stent, including forming coating droplets using a mesh nebulizer and transporting the coating droplets to the medical device, for example through a converging chamber. The coating droplets may be accelerated to a speed sufficient to break the coating droplets into smaller droplets upon impact with the medical device. The mesh nebulizer may have a convex inlet side and may form a converging plume of coating droplets. The mesh nebulizer may have one or more groups of pores, the pores within each group may be subject to similar amplitudes of vibration. The coating material may be heated or cooled prior to nebulizing. The chamber may include baffles configured to allow only a predetermined size range of coating particles to pass.

Abstract: A system for delivering a coated reconfigurable medical implant to a target site is provided. This system may include a carrier device having a proximal end and a distal end and a reconfigurable deployable coated medical implant in physical communication with an implant carrying region of the carrier device. In this system the deployable medical implant may be coated with a coating positioned on an exposed surface of the deployable medical implant and the deployable medical implant may be reconfigurable from a first expanded configuration to a second contracted configuration.

Abstract: A medical balloon may be configured by at least partially inflating the medical balloon and forming at least one primary wing in the balloon. The primary wing extends from a central portion of the balloon. The primary wing may be manipulated to form a T-shaped wing therefrom. The balloon may then be deflated and the T-shaped wings wrapped around the balloon.

Abstract: A method of protecting the coating on a reconfigurable coated workpiece having a first end and a second end is provided in one embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment includes providing an encasing hollow deformable membrane, positioning the first end of the reconfigurable coated workpiece adjacent to an entrance orifice of the membrane, enlarging the entrance orifice and the inside cavity of the membrane, inserting the reconfigurable coated workpiece into the enlarged entrance orifice and into the inside cavity and decreasing the size of the inside cavity of the membrane until an inside surface of the cavity contacts the coating of the workpiece.

Abstract: A medical balloon may be configured by at least partially inflating the medical balloon and forming at least one primary lobe in the balloon. The primary lobe extends from a central portion of the balloon. The primary lobe may be manipulated to form at least two secondary lobes therefrom. The balloon may then be deflated and the secondary lobes wrapped around the balloon.

Abstract: A method of protecting the coating on a reconfigurable coated workpiece having a first end and a second end is provided in one embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment includes providing an encasing hollow deformable membrane, positioning the first end of the reconfigurable coated workpiece adjacent to an entrance orifice of the membrane, enlarging the entrance orifice and the inside cavity of the membrane, inserting the reconfigurable coated workpiece into the enlarged entrance orifice and into the inside cavity and decreasing the size of the inside cavity of the membrane until an inside surface of the cavity contacts the coating of the workpiece.