A system and method that minimizes plaque accumulation on a stent and
thereby restenosis that could require a subsequent invasive medical
procedure following stent implantation. The stent, essentially an
expandable wire mesh tube comprised of a plurality of integral lattice
portions, configured for expansion within a blood vessel of a patient, is
formed with an electrically-controlled, biocompatible device as one of
its integral lattice portions. In a first implementation, the
biocompatible device is under control of an externally-positioned
controller which causes the device to emit an ultrasonic wave at a
frequency corresponding to the mechanical resonance of the stent and
thereby minimize accumulation of plaque. In a second or supplemental
implementation, the device is or other portions of the stent are coated
with a drug that can be controllably eluted by passing a current through
the coating under control of the biocompatible device and the
externally-positioned controller.