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Abstract

A method of forming an iridium oxide coating on a metal stent to achieve a firmattachment of a thin biocompatible coating of the iridium oxide such that the iridium oxide resists being dislodged from the stent upon expansion thereof in a vessel of the human body during implantation of the stent. The method includes submerging the stent in a coating solution having an adequate concentration of iridium chloride in a suitable liquid vehicle, and subjecting the coating solution with stent immersed therein to combined heating and application of ultrasonic energy at a temperature and energy level and for a time interval sufficient to form a coating of iridium oxide of desired thickness and surface roughness on the underlying metal surface of the stent. An biomedical implant with such underlying metal surface of primarily passive structure and an iridium oxide coating as a biologically active surface firmly attached to the underlying metal surface has catalytic properties similar to the normal catalytic activity in the cell cycle of a human body to assist in reducing inflammation associated with contact of the biomedical implant with tissue and blood of the body.

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First Claim