Coated medical devices for the treatment of vulnerable plaque

Abstract

Medical devices, and in particular implantable medical devices, may be coated to minimize or substantially eliminate a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. The medical devices may be coated with any number of biocompatible materials. Therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may be mixed with the biocompatible materials and affixed to at least a portion of the medical device. In addition to reducing or substantially eliminating a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism, the medical device in combination with one or more therapeutic drugs, agents and/or compounds may be utilized to treat various vascular diseases, for example, restenosis and vulnerable plaque. In the case of vulnerable plaque, one or more drugs, agents or compounds may be utilized to treat the various aspects of vulnerable plaque and these drugs, agents and/or compounds may be released with a given release profile for the most effective treatment. Various materials and coating methodologies may be utilized to maintain the drugs, agents or compounds on the medical device until delivered and positioned.