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. In addition, these therapeutic drugs,
agents and/or compounds may be utilized to promote healing, including the
formation of blood clots. The drugs, agents, and/or compounds may also be
utilized to treat specific diseases, including vulnerable plaque.
Therapeutic agents may also be delivered to the region of a disease site.
In regional delivery, liquid formulations may be desirable to increase
the efficacy and deliverability of the particular drug. Also, the devices
may be modified to promote endothelialization. Various materials and
coating methodologies may be utilized to maintain the drugs, agents or
compounds on the medical device until delivered and positioned. In
addition, the devices utilized to deliver the implantable medical devices
may be modified to reduce the potential for damaging the implantable
medical device during deployment. Medical devices include stents, grafts,
anastomotic devices, perivascular wraps, sutures and staples. These
devices may also comprise thin films that perform a number of functions.
In addition, various polymer combinations may be utilized to control the
elution rates of the therapeutic drugs, agents and/or compounds from the
implantable medical devices.