A medical device (10) includes a structure (12) adapted for introduction
into a patient, the structure (12) being formed of a preferably non-porous
base material (14) having a roughened or textured surface (16). The
structure (12) is conveniently configured as a vascular stent with a base
material (14) of stainless steel, nitinol or another suitable material.
The medical device (10) also includes a layer (18) of a bioactive
material posited directly upon the roughened or textured surface (16) of
the base material (14) of the structure (12). The surface (16)
of the base material (14) is roughened or textured by etching or by abrasion
with sodium bicarbonate or another suitable grit. A preferred roughened or textured
surface (16) is thought to have a mean surface roughness of about 10 in.
(about 250 nm) and a surface roughness range between about 1 in. and about
100 in. (about 25 nm and about 2.5 m). The particularly preferred
use of sodium bicarbonate as the abrasive to provide roughness or texture to the
surface (16) of the base material (14) of the structure (12)
is additionally advantageous in the low toxicity of the sodium bicarbonate to production
workers, the ease of product and waste cleanup, and the biocompatibility of any
residual sodium bicarbonate.
