Methods and devices for delivering therapeutic agents to target vessels
View Patent ↗Methods of preparing intravascular stents with a polymeric coating containing macrocyclic lactone (such as rapamycin or its analogs), stents and stent graphs with such coatings, and methods of treating a coronary artery with such devices. The macrocyclic lactone-based polymeric coating facilitates the performance of such devices in inhibiting restenosis.
1. A method of delivering at least one therapeutic agent to a target vessel in a mammal, comprising contacting an outer surface of the target vessel with a device comprising a polymer and said at least one therapeutic agent, wherein said at least one therapeutic agent comprises rapamycin or a macrocyclic lactone analog thereof, and wherein said device is a sheet having a thickness of about 10 μm to about 1000 μm.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the contacting step comprises positioning at least a portion of said sheet proximate at least a portion of the target vessel.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the contacting step comprises wrapping the target vessel or a portion thereof perivascularly with said sheet.
4. A method of delivering at least one therapeutic agent to a target vessel in a mammal, comprising contacting an outer surface of the target vessel with a device comprising a polymer having a melting temperature above 37° C. and said at least one therapeutic agent, wherein said at least one therapeutic agent comprises rapamycin or a macrocyclic lactone analog thereof.
5. A method of delivering at least one therapeutic agent to a target vessel in a mammal, comprising contacting an outer surface of the target vessel with a device comprising a molten mass comprising a polymer and said at least one therapeutic agent, wherein said at least one therapeutic agent comprises rapamycin or a macrocyclic lactone analog thereof.
6. The method of claim 5 , comprising the step of permitting the molten mass to conform to the outside of the target vessel.
7. The method of claim 5 , comprising the step of permitting the molten mass to cool and congeal while in contact with the outside of the target vessel.
8. The method of any one of claims 1 , 4 , or 5 wherein the device comprises about 0.001 weight percent to about 30 weight percent of the at least one therapeutic agent.
9. The method of any one of claims 1 , 4 , or 5 wherein the polymer is degradable.
10. The method of any one of claims 1 , 4 , or 5 wherein the polymer is non-degradable.