Medtronic Vascular, Inc.

Medtronic, Inc.

Conor O'Donovan

Jonathan Ashley Cope

David J Hobbins

Brian Dowling

Michael Sayers

Eamon Keane

Shane Nolan

Marc A Anderson

Cian Ryan

Lana Woolley

Risa Tom Egerter

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for customizing an elution rate of a stent. The stent includes a hollow strut that forms the stent, the hollow strut defining a lumenal space, a drug formulation disposed within the lumenal space of the hollow strut, and at least one side port for eluting the drug formulation in vivo. When the stent is in the radially expanded configuration the hollow strut is deformable from a first configuration that has a first elution rate for the drug formulation to a second configuration that has a second elution rate for the drug formulation. The second elution rate is faster than the first elution rate. The hollow strut deforms from the first configuration to the second configuration upon application of an applied pressure above a predetermined threshold.

Drug-eluting stent formed from a deformable hollow strut for a customizable elution rate

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for customizing an elution profile of a stent after manufacture of the stent has been completed. The stent includes a plurality of side ports for eluting a drug formulation within a lumenal space of a hollow strut that forms the stent. An effective diameter of at least one side port of the plurality of side ports of the stent is modified in order to customize an elution profile of the stent. In an embodiment hereof, the plurality of side ports are completely blocked or plugged with a filler material during the manufacture of the stent and at least a portion of the filler material is removed to increase an effective diameter of at least one side port of the plurality of side ports of the stent in order to customize an elution profile of the stent. In another embodiment hereof, the plurality of side ports are open following the manufacture of the stent and at least one side port of the plurality of side ports of the stent is at least partially filled with a filler material to decrease the effective diameter of the at least one side port in order to customize an elution profile of the stent. In another embodiment hereof, the stent is soaked within a liquid to remove at least a portion of the drug formulation from the lumenal space of the hollow strut to thereby customize an elution profile of the stent.

Customizing the elution profile of a stent

A guide extension catheter includes a push member and a distal shaft. The push member includes a segment having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The segment includes a groove in the first surface. The second surface is substantially flat. The distal shaft is coupled to the push member and includes a passageway. The segment of the push member including the groove is adjacent to the distal shaft.

Guide extension catheter with grooved push member segment

Growing community of inventors

Galway, Ireland

Conor O'Donovan