Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A method is disclosed for coating a biomaterial to be placed in contact with a patient's blood flow to inhibit blood coagulation from adhering to the biomaterial that would otherwise result from such contact. A biodegradable material of liquid state compatible with the blood and tissue of the human body is prepared, and an anti-coagulant drug is incorporated into the liquid state of the biodegradable material to form a liquid coating material. The liquid coating material is adhesively applied to a surface of the biomaterial in a substantially continuous overlying layer having a formulation, pattern and thickness selected according to the period of time over which the coating material is to perform its anti-coagulant action. Thereafter the coating material is dried to a layer thickness less than about 100 microns for continuous disintegration thereof as a function of time when the layer is in contact with flowing blood. The method is utilized in an exemplary embodiment in which the biomaterial is a vascular stent.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim