Abstract: An expandable medical device includes a plurality of elongated struts, forming a substantially cylindrical device which is expandable from a first diameter to a second diameter. A plurality of different beneficial agents may be loaded into different openings within the struts for delivery to the tissue. For treatment of conditions such as restenosis, different agents are loaded into different openings in the device to address different biological processes involved in restenosis and are delivered at different release kinetics matched to the biological process treated. The different agents may also be used to address different diseases from the same drug delivery device. In addition, anti-thrombotic agents may be affixed to at least a portion of the surfaces of the medical device for the prevention of sub-acute thrombosis. To ensure that the different agents remain affixed to the device as well as to each other, primer layers may be utilized.

Abstract: Medical devices, and in particular implantable medical devices, may be coated to minimize or substantially eliminate a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. The medical devices may be coated with any number of biocompatible materials. Therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may be mixed with the biocompatible materials and affixed to at least a portion of the medical device. These therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may also further reduce a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. In addition, these therapeutic drugs, agents and/or compounds may be utilized to promote healing, including the formation of blood clots. Also, the devices may be modified to promote endothelialization. Various materials and coating methodologies may be utilized to maintain the drugs, agents or compounds on the medical device until delivered and positioned.

Abstract: Medical devices, and in particular implantable medical devices, may be coated to minimize or substantially eliminate a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. The medical devices may be coated with any number of biocompatible materials. Therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may be mixed with the biocompatible materials and affixed to at least a portion of the medical device. These therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may also further reduce a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. In addition, these therapeutic drugs, agents and/or compounds may be utilized to promote healing, including the formation of blood clots. Various materials and coating methodologies may be utilized to maintain the drugs, agents or compounds on the medical device until delivered and positioned.

Abstract: A process for reducing solvent contents in drug-containing polymeric compositions may be utilized to reduce the solvent content in implantable medical device wherein the compositions are in reservoirs. Specifically, the solvent contents in the drug-containing polymeric compositions are first reduced by one or more conventional drying methods, to a range from about 0.5 weight percent to about 10 weight percent of the total weight of the polymeric composition. Subsequently, the drug-containing polymeric compositions are further treated by a low temperature drying method for further reduction of the solvent content.

Abstract: A conjugate between an anti-thrombotic agent and bioabsorbable polymer is provided. Also, a method is provided for applying a coating comprising an anti-thrombotic agent and bioabsorbable polymer conjugate to at least some of an implantable device to prevent or reduce formation of thrombosis on the surface of the device. A first or sub-layer of the coating is prepared by mixing polymeric material and a biologically active agent with a solvent, thereby forming a homogeneous solution. A second or outer layer comprises an anti-thrombotic heparin-bioabsorbable polymer conjugate. This coating may be applied over inner drug-containing layers using, for example, dip coating or spray coating processes. After drying, the anti-thrombotic heparin bioabsorbable polymer conjugate remains in the outer layer of coating, allowing agent from the inner layer to elute there through. Also, the outmost layer prevents thrombosis, and can modulate release kinetics of agent(s) contained within inner layer(s) of the coating.

Abstract: Medical devices, and in particular implantable medical devices, may be coated to minimize or substantially eliminate a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. The medical devices may be coated with any number of biocompatible materials. Therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may be mixed with the biocompatible materials and affixed to at least a portion of the medical device. These therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may also further reduce a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. Various materials and coating methodologies may be utilized to maintain the drugs, agents or compounds on the medical device until delivered and positioned.

Abstract: A drug and drug delivery system may be utilized in the treatment of vascular disease. A local delivery system is coated with rapamycin or other suitable drug, agent or compound and delivered intraluminally for the treatment and prevention of neointimal hyperplasia following percutaneous transluminal coronary angiography. The local delivery of the drugs or agents provides for increased effectiveness and lower systemic toxicity.

Abstract: Medical devices, and in particular implantable medical devices, may be coated to minimize or substantially eliminate a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. The medical devices may be coated with any number of biocompatible materials. Therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may be mixed with the biocompatible materials and affixed to at least a portion of the medical device. These therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may also further reduce a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. In addition, these therapeutic drugs, agents and/or compounds may be utilized to promote healing, including the formation of blood clots. The drugs, agents, and/or compounds may also be utilized to treat specific diseases, including vulnerable plaque. Therapeutic agents may also be delivered to the region of a disease site.

Abstract: Medical devices, and in particular implantable medical devices, may be coated to minimize or substantially eliminate a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. The medical devices may be coated with any number of biocompatible materials. Therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may be mixed with the biocompatible materials and affixed to at least a portion of the medical device. These therapeutic agents or compounds may also further reduce a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. In addition, these therapeutic drugs, agents and/or compounds may be utilized to promote healing, including the prevention of thrombosis. The drugs, agents, and/or compounds may also be utilized to treat specific disorders, including vulnerable plaque, and atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic patients. Therapeutic agents may also be delivered to the region of a disease site.

Abstract: Medical devices, and in particular implantable medical devices, may be coated to minimize or substantially eliminate a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. The medical devices may be coated with any number of biocompatible materials. Therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may be mixed with the biocompatible materials and affixed to at least a portion of the medical device. These therapeutic agents or compounds may also further reduce a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. In addition, these therapeutic drugs, agents and/or compounds may be utilized to promote healing, including the prevention of thrombosis. The drugs, agents, and/or compounds may also be utilized to treat specific disorders, including vulnerable plaque. Therapeutic agents may also be delivered to the region of a disease site.

Abstract: A drug and drug delivery system may be utilized in the treatment of vascular disease. A local delivery system is coated with rapamycin or other suitable drug, agent or compound and delivered intraluminally for the treatment and prevention of neointimal hyperplasia following percutaneous transluminal coronary angiography. The local delivery of the drugs or agents provides for increased effectiveness and lower systemic toxicity.

Abstract: A conjugate between an anti-thrombotic agent and a bioabsorbable polymer is provided. In addition, a method is provided for applying a coating comprising an anti-thrombotic agent and a bioabsorbable polymer conjugate to at least a portion of an implantable device to prevent or reduce the formation of thrombosis on the surface of the device. A first or sub-layer of the coating is prepared by mixing a polymeric material and a biologically active agent with a solvent, thereby forming a homogeneous solution. A second or outer layer comprises an anti-thrombotic heparin-bioabsorbable polymer conjugate. This coating may be applied over the inner drug-containing layers using, for example, a dip coating or spray coating process. After drying, the anti-thrombotic heparin bioabsorbable polymer conjugate remains in the outer layer of the coating, allowing agent from the inner layer to be eluted there through.

Abstract: Animal testing, wherein the animals have disease state characteristics substantially equivalent to those found in humans, may be utilized to evaluate the efficacy of medical devices and/or therapeutic agents.

Abstract: Methods for preventing, managing and reversing disease caused by inflammation mediated vascular lesions may utilize agents that bind to FKBP 12 and inhibit mTOR cascade.

Abstract: Medical devices, and in particular implantable medical devices, may be coated to minimize or substantially eliminate a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. The medical devices may be coated with any number of biocompatible materials. Therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may be mixed with the biocompatible materials and affixed to at least a portion of the medical device. These therapeutic agents or compounds may also further reduce a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. In addition, these therapeutic drugs, agents and/or compounds may be utilized to promote healing, including the prevention of thrombosis. The drugs, agents, and/or compounds may also be utilized to treat specific disorders, including vulnerable plaque. Implantable coated medical devices may be processed through annealing to better control the elution characteristics of the therapeutic agents.

Abstract: Medical devices, and in particular implantable medical devices, may be coated to minimize or substantially eliminate a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. The medical devices may be coated with any number of biocompatible materials. Therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may be mixed with the biocompatible materials and affixed to at least a portion of the medical device. These therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may also further reduce a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. In addition, these therapeutic drugs, agents and/or compounds may be utilized to promote healing, including the formation of blood clots. Also, the devices may be modified to promote endothelialization. Various materials and coating methodologies may be utilized to maintain the drugs, agents or compounds on the medical device until delivered and positioned.

Abstract: A drug and drug delivery system may be utilized in the treatment of vascular disease. A local delivery system is coated with rapamycin or other suitable drug, agent or compound and delivered intraluminally for the treatment and prevention of neointimal hyperplasia following percutaneous transluminal coronary angiography. The local delivery of the drugs or agents provides for increased effectiveness and lower systemic toxicity.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a biocompatible coating composition that can be photo crosslinked when exposed to long wavelength ultraviolet light. The biocompatible coating composition comprises at least one biocompatible polymer having a photoactive moiety covalently attached thereto, and a biologically active molecule having a photoactive moiety covalently attached thereto. The photoactive moiety covalently attached to the biologically active molecule and the photoactive moiety covalently attached to the at least one biocompatible polymer are the same or different, and absorb and respond to ultraviolet light having a wavelength band of about 300 nm or above. Preferably, the photoactive moiety is a chemical moiety derived from thioxanthone. The inventive biocompatible coating composition can be applied on at least a portion of one surface of an article.

Abstract: The present invention relates to drug-eluting articles with multiple polymeric coatings arranged and constructed to provide improved drug release profiles. Specifically, the present invention relates to drug-eluting articles that each comprises a substrate, a first polymeric layer over said substrate, and a second polymeric layer over said first polymeric layer. The first polymeric layer comprises at least a first biocompatible polymer and at least a first pharmacologically active compound that is encapsulated in the first biocompatible polymer. The second polymeric layer comprises at least a second biocompatible polymer having a degradability that is higher than that of the first biocompatible polymer.

Abstract: Methods of preparing intravascular stents with a polymeric coating containing macrocyclic lactone (such as rapamycin or its analogs), stents and stent graphs with such coatings, and methods of treating a coronary artery with such devices. The macrocyclic lactone-based polymeric coating facilitates the performance of such devices in inhibiting restenosis.