| abstract |
Disclosed are implantable devices for delivering a drug into the blood stream of a vessel or into the vessel wall of a subject's body to treat or prevent vascular or cardiovascular disease, such as vascular plaque, cardiovascular plaque, and diseases attributable to inflammation, such as arteriosclerosis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and Alzheimer's disease. The devices of the present invention comprise a biodegradable matrix that degrades gradually and vanishes over a period of time, and have a ring-like, flag-like, or plaster-like configuration. The flag-like configuration comprises a holding structure and at least one flag. These flags are preferably elastic, and may be constructed from fibers, woven tissue, strings, sheets, or any combination thereof. Disclosed devices may comprise more than one drug, or varying concentrations of the same drug. Also disclosed are methods related thereto. |