Stent having an ultrasonic emitter
US7563279B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 20, 2005 |
| Grant date | Jul 21, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 29, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2250/0001
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system and method that minimizes plaque accumulation on a stent and thereby restenosis that could require a subsequent invasive medical procedure following stent implantation. The stent, essentially an expandable wire mesh tube comprised of a plurality of integral lattice portions, configured for expansion within a blood vessel of a patient, is formed with an electrically-controlled, biocompatible device as one of its integral lattice portions. In a first implementation, the biocompatible device is under control of an externally-positioned controller which causes the device to emit an ultrasonic wave at a frequency corresponding to the mechanical resonance of the stent and thereby minimize accumulation of plaque. In a second or supplemental implementation, the device is or other portions of the stent are coated with a drug that can be controllably eluted by passing a current through the coating under control of the biocompatible device and the externally-positioned controller.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.