This invention relates generally to medical devices, such as stents, for
delivering a biologically active material to a desired location within
the body of a patient. In particular, the invention relates generally to
a medical device for delivering a biologically active material to a
surface of a body lumen. More particularly, the invention is directed to
a medical device comprising two opposing end sections, each having a
surface, and a middle portion. The middle portion comprises a plurality
of struts and the two opposing end sections comprises non-structural
elements. The end sections of the surface either (1) contain a greater
amount of a biologically active material per unit length of the surface
or (2) have a greater capacity per unit length to contain such material
than the middle section of the surface by having a greater surface area
per unit length of the surface than the middle section or having a
greater affinity for the biologically active material per unit length of
the surface than the middle section. The struts and the non-structural
elements comprise biologically active materials. The invention is also
directed to a method for delivering the biologically active material to
the body tissue of a patient by inserting this medical device into the
body of the patient. Still further, the invention is directed to a method
of treating a body lumen surface by preventing or treating restenosis or
hyperplasia, using the system of the invention. Still further, the
invention is directed to a stent having a sidewall which comprises a
middle section, a first end section and a second end section. The stent
also comprises a band comprising a biologically active material. The band
is connected to the first end section and/or second end section of the
stent.