| abstract |
An expandable stent (10) for deployment in the body comprises a tubular body (12) having an interior (14), an exterior (16) and a lattice structure (17) with open interstices. The stent carries a bio-compatible coating (18), which is applied to the tubular body as a flowing polymer. The coating comprises a continuous film (20) that envelops the entire lattice structure, and spans the interstices of the lattice structure. The film extends continuously between the interior, and exterior of the stent, and is free of an interior boundary layer. |