Medical Devices, Drug Coatings and Methods for Maintaining the Drug Coatings Thereon

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.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation application of copending U.S. Ser. No. 11 / 782,740, filed Jul. 25, 2007, which in turn is a continuation of copending U.S. Ser. No. 11 / 437,572, filed May 19, 2006, which in turn is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10 / 636,435 filed Aug. 7, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,056,550, which is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 09 / 962,496 filed Sep. 25, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 675,882, filed Sep. 29, 2000.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to the local administration of drug / drug combinations for the prevention and treatment of vascular disease, and more particularly to intraluminal medical devices for the local delivery of drug / drug combinations for the prevention and treatment of vascular disease caused by injury and methods for maintaining the drug / drug combinations on the intraluminal...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a solution for overcoming the difficulties associated with current methods and devices used for medical implants. The invention provides a way to maintain the therapeutic agents on the medical device during implantation and ensure they reach the target site. The invention also provides a method for coating the medical device with a therapeutic agent and a method for preventing restenosis. The medical device can be implanted into a treatment site of a living organism and can be designed to react with the organism's chemicals to treat the disease. Overall, the invention provides a more effective and efficient way to treat medical implants."

Problems solved by technology

More severe blockage of blood vessels in such individuals often leads to hypertension, ischemic injury, stroke, or myocardial infarction.

A limitation associated with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty is the abrupt closure of the vessel which may occur immediately after the procedure and restenosis which occurs gradually following the procedure.

Additionally, restenosis is a chronic problem in patients who have undergone saphenous vein bypass grafting.

Upon pressure expansion of an intracoronary balloon catheter during angioplasty, smooth muscle cells within the vessel wall become injured, initiating a thrombotic and inflammatory response.

However, in contrast to animal models, attempts in human angioplasty patients to prevent restenosis by systemic pharmacologic means have thus far been unsuccessful.

The platelet GP IIb / IIIa receptor, antagonist, Reopro® is still under study but Reopro® has not shown definitive results for the reduction in restenosis following angioplasty and stenting.

These agents must be given systemically, however, and attainment of a therapeutically effective dose may not be possible; anti-proliferative (or anti-restenosis) concentrations may exceed the known toxic concentrations of these agents so that levels sufficient to produce smooth muscle inhibition may not be reached (Mak and Topol, 1997; Lang et al., 1991; Popma et al., 1991).

Currently, however, the most effective treatments for restenosis are repeat angioplasty, atherectomy or coronary artery bypass grafting, because no therapeutic agents currently have Food and Drug Administration approval for use for the prevention of post-angioplasty restenosis.

In addition, the processes and materials utilized should be biocompatible and maintain the drug / drug combinations on the local device through delivery and over a given period of time.

For example, removal of the drug / drug combination during delivery of the local delivery device may potentially cause failure of the device.

These homopolymers are not soluble in any solvent at reasonable temperatures and therefore are difficult to coat onto small medical devices while maintaining important features of the devices (e.g. slots in stents).

However, like most crystalline polyfluoro homopolymers, they are difficult to apply as high quality films onto surfaces without subjecting them to relatively high temperatures, that correspond to the melting temperature of the polymer.

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