Abstract: The present invention relates to a catheter balloon with a coating containing rapamycin and shellac and to a method for coating catheter balloons preferably textured catheter balloons with the pharmacological agent rapamycin, shellac and optionally further components. Moreover, the present invention relates also to the use of catheter balloons coated in such a way for the release of the pharmaceutically active agent rapamycin for prophylaxis and treatment of restenosis, preferably restenosis caused by angioplasty. The coated catheter balloons can be used alone or in combination with a coated or uncoated stent, which is crimped on the catheter balloon before or after the coating with shellac and rapamycin.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a radially expandable vessel support having a multitude of annular elements flexibly connected to each other, defining a vascular support with a proximal and a distal end and a longitudinal axis. The annular elements are arranged side by side transversely to the longitudinal axis of the vascular support and connected to each other by means of bending elements. At least two marginally standing annular elements each are linked among each other by a pair of dumbbell shaped bending elements and centrally standing annular elements are linked among each other and to marginally standing annular elements by two S-shaped bending elements each, with at least the centrally standing annular elements being of a zigzag-shaped configuration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for coating catheter balloons with the pharmacological agent paclitaxel and the biological and biodegradable polymer composition shellac and optionally further components. Moreover the present invention relates to paclitaxel and shellac coated catheter balloons obtained according to the coating methods disclosed herein as well as the use of such coated catheter balloons for the short time release of the pharmaceutically active agent paclitaxel for prophylaxis and treatment of restenosis especially restenosis caused by angioplasty. The coated catheter balloons can be used alone or in combination with a coated or uncoated stent crimped on the catheter balloon before or after the coating with shellac and paclitaxel.

Abstract: In one embodiment, balloons are intended for use in valvuloplasty of stenosed aortic valves, with a potential use for valvuloplasty of other heart valves as well. Their common special feature is that the entire or part of their external surface is covered by a drug that is eluted at the valve tissues during the balloon brief contact with them at the time of dilatation. The drug acts against the process of restenosis, which almost uniformly occurs after some time. The shape of the balloon can be the classical cylindrical or an hour-glass shape that facilitates targeted delivery of the drug at the valve tissues. Additional balloon shapes are described for usage after valvuloplasty is carried out in order to achieve targeted drug delivery in the upper or both surfaces of the leaflets, and for prolonged contact with the valve tissues without interruption of blood circulation. An advantage of the balloons is that the local delivery of the drug will significantly reduce the likelihood of restenosis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an expandable system consisting of a catheter balloon and a crimped stent. The system can include a rapid release kinetic of one active agent with a slow release kinetic of a second active agent, due to the fact that the catheter balloon is coated with a first active agent adapted for rapid release and the stent is coated with a second agent adapted for slower release. The catheter balloon can be coated with a cytotoxic amount of a first active agent and the stent can be coated with a cytostatic amount of a second active agent.