| abstract |
A covered, coiled drug delivery stent ( 145 ) includes a coiled, radially-expandable stent wall or body ( 139 ) with a porous covering overlying the outer surface ( 139 A) of the stent body. A drug ( 147 ) may be associated with the porous covering by, for example, being in the form of a porous covering/drug matrix ( 141 ) or being a layer above or below the porous covering. Structure may be used to delay the migration of the drug to the patient by, for example, using a protective layer ( 143 ) to cover the stent body, porous covering, and drug. The protective layer may be removed by being biodegradable, or by being at least partially pulled off of the structure. The drug may be an integral part of a biodegradable material so that the drug is exposed only when the biodegradable material biodegrades. The drug may also be within biodegradable microencapsulation material. |