Abstract: The present invention relates generally to medical devices with therapy eluting components and methods for making same. More specifically, the invention relates to implantable medical devices having at least one porous layer, and methods for making such devices, and loading such devices with therapeutic agents. A mixture or alloy is placed on the surface of a medical device, then one component of the mixture or alloy is generally removed without generally removing the other components of the mixture or alloy. In some embodiments, a porous layer is adapted for bonding non-metallic coating, including drug eluting polymeric coatings. A porous layer may have a random pore structure or an oriented or directional grain porous structure. One embodiment of the invention relates to medical devices, including vascular stents, having at least one porous layer adapted to resist stenosis or cellular proliferation without requiring elution of therapeutic agents.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods for treating a patient by positioning an expandable body (10) having one or more microstructures (14) within a body lumen and penetrating the lumen wall with the microstructures (14). The microstructures are formed in or attached to the lumen through a cacheter or other suitable device. Each microstructure (14) has an end (16) which is attached to the expandable body and a free end (18). Once the apparatus is positioned within the body lumen in a desired location one or more of the microstructures are deployed wherein the free ends project radially outwardly. The free ends of the deployed microstructures penetrate the lumen wall by continued expansion of the body. Additionally, a therapeutic agent may be delivered to the lumen wall by the penetrated microstructures.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to medical devices with therapy eluting components and methods for making same. More specifically, the invention relates to implantable medical devices having at least one porous layer, and methods for making such devices, and loading such devices with therapeutic agents. A mixture or alloy is placed on the surface of a medical device, then one component of the mixture or alloy is generally removed without generally removing the other components of the mixture or alloy.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating a medical device having at least one porous layer include providing a medical device having at least one alloy and removing at least one component of the alloy to form the porous layer. Although methods may be used to make stent devices with porous layers, any other suitable medical device may be made having one or more porous layers. An alloy may include any suitable combination of metals and sometimes a combination of metal and non-metal. In some embodiments, one or more of the most electrochemically active component(s) of an alloy are removed by the dissolving (or “dealloying”) process, to leave a porous matrix behind. The porous matrix layer may then be infused with one or more therapeutic agents for enhancing treatment of a patient.