Patent ID: 8512750
Filing Date: 2013-08-20
Classification: A61L

Abstract:
1. A method for producing a drug coated intravascular stent comprising the steps: a) coating a metallic stent body with a cross-linkable amphiphilic polymer; b) subjecting the cross-linkable amphiphilic polymer to conditions under which cross-linking takes place to produce a stent coated with polymer which, when swollen with water containing pyrene, has hydrophobic domains observable by pyrene fluorescence having an intensity ratio I3:I1 of at least 0.8; c) contacting at least the outer coated wall of the polymer coated stent with a liquid drug composition comprising a sparingly water-soluble restenosis inhibiting agent as the drug and an organic solvent in which the drug is at least partially dissolved and which is capable of swelling the cross-linked polymer of the coating, for a time sufficient to swell the polymer coating on the outer wall, to produce a wet drug-coated stent in which drug is present in an amount in the range of 20 μg to 1000 μg per stent; d) evaporating organic solvent from the wet stent to produce a dry drug-coated stent.