Patent ID: 8118857

Claim:
An implantable medical device comprising a stent, the stent including a plurality of stent struts, wherein at least one of the plurality of stent strut comprises: (a) an electronically conductive substrate having a specific conductivity of at least 1 μS/cm, the substrate comprising an inner surface, an outer surface, and two opposite side surfaces; and (b) a galvanic couple that comprises a first member arranged on the inner surface or one of the two opposite side surfaces and a second member arranged on the outer surface in sufficient proximity to each other to generate a localized electric field under physiological conditions sufficient to stimulate endothelial cell migration from tissue surrounding the outer surface and deposit cells on the inner surface or one of the two opposite side surfaces when the device is implanted, wherein the first and second members are selected such that the galvanic couple exhibits an average plateau current density of at least 25 microamps/cm 2 when short circuited in a zero resistance ammeter test at room temperature using a saline electrolyte.