Patent ID: 7056338

Claim:
A method for preparing an implantable medical device, which method comprises: a) providing an implantable medical device with a plurality of holes; b) loading into the plurality of holes an amount of a liquefied therapeutic agent, which amount is sufficient to form a therapeutic agent layer; c) allowing said liquefied therapeutic agent layer to at least partially solidify; d) loading into the plurality of holes an amount of a liquefied bioresorbable polymer which amount is sufficient to liquefy a portion of the therapeutic agent layer, thereby allowing a portion of the therapeutic agent layer to be disposed within a mixing layer; e) allowing said liquefied bioresorbable polymer and said portion of the therapeutic agent layer to solidify; wherein a concentration of therapeutic agent contained within the mixing layer upon solidification is smaller than a concentration of therapeutic agent contained in the therapeutic agent layer; wherein the loading of the liquefied therapeutic agent and the liquefied bioresorbable polymer are performed in a dropwise matter; and further wherein steps d and e may optionally be repeated to form multiple mixing layers.