A coated implantable medical device 10 includes a structure 12 adapted for
introduction into the vascular system, esophagus, trachea, colon, biliary
tract, or urinary tract, and at least one layer 18 of an
immunosuppressive agent posited over at least one surface of the
structure 12. Optionally, the device 10 can include at least one porous,
preferably polymeric layer 20 posited over the layer 18 of
immunosuppressive agent, and can alternatively or additionally include at
least one coating layer 16 posited on one surface of the structure 12,
the at least one layer 18 of immunosuppessive agent being posited in turn
on at least a portion of the coating layer 16. The porous layer 20 and
the coating layer 16 each provide for the controlled release of the
bioactive material from the device 10. The structure 12 is preferably
configured as a coronary stent. The polymer of the porous layer 20 is
preferably applied by vapor or plasma deposition. It is particularly
preferred that the polymer is a polyamide, parylene or a parylene
derivative which is deposited without solvents, heat or catalysts, but
rather by condensation of a monomer vapor.