Patent ID: 8084076

Claim:
A process for depositing an active substance on selected regions of the surface of a stent, comprising: (i) providing the active substance in at least one form selected from the group consisting of a powder and a paste; and (ii) depositing the active substance on the selected regions of the surface of the stent, wherein the stent, with the active substance deposited on the selected regions of the surface of the stent, is subjected to a treatment for stabilizing the active substance to provide adhesion of the active substance to the selected regions, the treatment for stabilizing the active substance being chosen from the group consisting of: (i) dipping in solvent for a controlled length of time; (ii) exposure to solvent spray; (iii) exposure to solvent vapors; and (iv) lyophilization, and wherein the stent is not provided with any further coatings or sheath on the surface of the stent, and wherein the solvent is a solvent for the active substance.