| Remote activation of an implantable device -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Remote activation of an implantable deviceUSPTO Application #: 20070191937Title: Remote activation of an implantable device Abstract: The invention is directed to an implantable device, such as a stent, for delivering a therapeutic substance. The device includes a reservoir containing a therapeutic substance and an energy converter to cause the release of the substance. (end of abstract) Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP - San Francisco, CA, US Inventor: Syed F.A. Hossainy USPTO Applicaton #: 20070191937 - Class: 623001420 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Prosthesis (i.e., Artificial Body Members), Parts Thereof, Or Aids And Accessories Therefor, Arterial Prosthesis (i.e., Blood Vessel), Drug Delivery The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070191937. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE [0001] This is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 09/966,421 filed on Sep. 27, 2001. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] This invention relates generally to implantable devices, such as expandable intraluminal prosthesis. More particularly, this invention relates to a stent that delivers a therapeutic substance. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method of delivering a therapeutic substance with a stent. [0004] 2. Description of the Background [0005] A variety of surgical procedures and medical devices are currently used to relieve intraluminal constrictions caused by disease or tissue trauma. An example of one such procedure is percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). PTCA is a catheter-based technique whereby a balloon catheter is inserted into a blocked or narrowed coronary lumen of the patient. Once the balloon is positioned at the blocked lumen or target site, the balloon is inflated causing the remodeling of the lumen. The catheter is then removed from the target site thereby allowing blood to freely flow through the lumen. [0006] Although PTCA and related procedures aid in alleviating intraluminal constrictions, such constrictions or blockages reoccur in many cases. The cause of these recurring obstructions, termed restenosis, is due to the body's immune system responding to the trauma of the surgical procedure. As a result, the PTCA procedure may need to be repeated to repair the damaged lumen. [0007] Stents or drug therapies, either alone or in combination with the PTCA procedure, are often used to avoid or mitigate the effects of restenosis at the surgical site. In general, stents are small, cylindrical devices whose structure serves to create or maintain an unobstructed opening within a lumen. The stents are typically made of, for example, stainless steel, Nitinol or other materials and are delivered to the target site via a balloon catheter. Although stents are effective in opening the stenotic lumen, the foreign material and structure of the stents themselves may exacerbate the occurrence of restenosis or thrombosis. [0008] Drugs or therapeutic agents that limit migration and/or proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells are used to significantly reduce the incidence of restenosis and thrombosis. Examples of various therapeutic agents commonly used include heparin, antithrombogenic agents, steroids, ibuprofen, antimicrobials, antibiotics, antiproliferatives, tissue plasma activator inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, antiinflammatory substances, and antifibrosis agents. [0009] Should the therapeutic agents be applied systemically to the patient, they are absorbed not only by the tissues at the target site, but by all areas of the body. As such, one drawback associated with the systemic application of drugs is that areas of the body not needing treatment are also affected. To provide a more site-specific treatment, stents are frequently used as a means of delivering the drugs exclusively to the target site. The drugs are included or incorporated in a tissue-compatible polymer, such as a silicone, polyurethane, polyester, hydrogel, hyaluronate, and various copolymers and blended mixtures thereof. By positioning the stent at the target site, the drugs can be applied directly to the area of the lumen requiring therapy. [0010] The above-described device, for treatment of restenosis and thrombosis, offers many advantages to potential patients. However, such devices may be deficient in their current drug-delivery capabilities. In particular, restenosis does not necessarily develop at a constant rate. The polymer-coated device may have limited effectiveness because the therapeutic agents are released by passive diffusion, and therefore do not have a release pattern that corresponds to the pathological cascade of restenosis. [0011] In view of the above, it is apparent that there is a need to provide a drug delivery device which can control the release of the therapeutic agents so that conditions such as restenosis, that develop at a variable rate, can be more effectively treated. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012] Herein is described an implantable device, such as as a stent, for delivering a therapeutic substance comprising a first material carried by the stent containing a therapeutic substance, and a second material carried by the stent to convert a first type of energy received by the second material from an energy source positioned external to the body vessel to a second type of energy, wherein the second type of energy promotes release of the therapeutic substance from the first material. [0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, the second material can be, for example, Au, an Au-alloy, or ferrimagnetic glass-ceramic. In one variation, the second material can be Au particles with average diameters of, for example, from about 100-350 nm. In one embodiment, the second material can be capable of converting electromagnetic waves into thermal energy. [0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the first material is a temperature-sensitive hydrogel. The temperature-sensitive hydrogel can be N-isopropylacrylamide, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymers, poly(acrylic acid) grafted pluronic copolymers, chitosan grafted pluronic copolymer, elastin mimetic polypeptides, and combinations and mixtures thereof. [0015] Herein is also disclosed a method of delivering a therapeutic substance from a stent comprising inserting into a body vessel a stent comprising a first material containing a therapeutic substance and a second material capable of converting a first type of energy to a second type of energy, and applying to the second material a first type of energy from an energy source external to the body vessel wherein the second material converts the first type of energy to the second type of energy and the second type of energy promotes the release of the therapeutic substance from the first material. [0016] Herein is also disclosed a stent for delivering thermal energy to a body vessel comprising a tubular body for implanting in a body vessel, and an energy converter carried by the tubular body to convert a first type of energy into thermal energy, wherein the energy converter is positioned to release the thermal energy to tissues adjacent to the tubular body and is responsive to an energy source remote from and not in direct physical contact with the energy converter. [0017] Herein is also described a system for delivering a therapeutic substance comprising a device for implanting in the body, a reservoir carried by the device containing a therapeutic substance, an energy converter carried by the device to convert a first type of energy to a second type of energy to release the therapeutic substance from the reservoir, and an energy emitter for emitting the first type of energy to the energy converter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0018] FIG. 1 is a side-view of a conventional stent in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; [0019] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an embodiment of the remote delivery system including a stent inserted into a body vessel; [0020] FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of a stent; Continue reading... Full patent description for Remote activation of an implantable device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Remote activation of an implantable device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Remote activation of an implantable device or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Reduction of restenosis Next Patent Application: Remote activation of an implantable device Industry Class: Prosthesis (i.e., artificial body members), parts thereof, or aids and accessories therefor ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Remote activation of an implantable device patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.53547 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , |
||
