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 such as a stent-graft. 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. A stent-graft fabricated
from a thin-walled, high strength material provides for a more durable
and lower profile endoprosthesis. The stent-graft comprises one or more
stent segments covered with a fabric formed by the weaving, knitting or
braiding of a biocompatible, high tensile strength, abrasion resistant,
highly durable yarn such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. The
one or more stent segments may be balloon expandable or self-expanding.
The fabric may be attached to the stent segments utilizing any number of
known materials and techniques. In addition, the pore size of the graft
material may be varied.
