| abstract |
According to an aspect of the present invention, at least one ionic therapeutic agent is delivered from an implantable or insertable medical device that comprises an ion-conductive polymeric region that is disposed on a metallic region. The metallic region is in electrical contact with a dissimilar metallic region, such that a galvanic current is generated by the dissimilar metals when the device is implanted or inserted into a patient. Delivery of the ionic therapeutic agent from the ion-conductive polymeric region may be, for example, either accelerated or retarded by the galvanic current. According to another aspect of the present invention, implantable or insertable medical devices are provided which comprise: (a) a first metallic region having a first corrosion potential, (b) a second metallic region in electrical contact with the first metallic region and having a second corrosion potential that is greater than the first corrosion potential, and (c) a solid ion-conductive polymeric region, comprising an ion conducting polymer and an ionic therapeutic agent, disposed on the first metallic region, the second metallic region, or both. |