Importance

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Abstract

Devices and methods for rendering an intravascular stent radioactive in-situ, after stent placement. A stent is provided having a tubular body and a first substance immobilized on body. The first substance preferably has a high and selective affinity for a second substance which can be radioactive, cytotoxic or thrombolytic. The first substance can also have an affinity for growth factors or thrombolytic, chemolytic or cytotoxic agents. The stent can be placed across a stenosed blood vessel region, preferably after dilation by angioplasty or atherectomy. After stent placement within the vessel, the second substance can be injected into the blood stream of a patient. With each pass through the stent, the second substance is increasingly bound to the first substance on the stent. Suitable complementary substance pairs include avidin and radio-labeled biotin, protamine and radioactive heparin, and protein and anti-protein antibody.

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First Claim