Drug delivery graft

Abstract

An improved drug delivery graft comprises a drug delivery device coupled to an outer wall of a porous graft. An agent is conducted by the drug delivery device from a source to the outer wall of the graft where it is released to diffuse into the lumen of the graft through porous interstices of the outer wall.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A drug delivery graft, comprising: 
 a graft comprising a lumen defined by an outer wall, wherein the outer wall is characterized by a microstructure having nodes interconnected by fibrils; and    drug delivery means coupled to the outer wall for delivering a drug thereto, wherein the drug diffuses into the lumen through the outer wall.    
     
     
         2 . The drug delivery graft according to  claim 1 , further comprising a drug source coupled to the drug delivery means.  
     
     
         3 . The drug delivery graft according to  claim 1 , wherein the drug delivery means comprises a hollow tube.  
     
     
         4 . The drug delivery graft according to  claim 3 , wherein the hollow tube is arranged substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the graft.  
     
     
         5 . The drug delivery graft according to  claim 3 , wherein the hollow tube comprises a cutaway portion in communication with the outer wall.  
     
     
         6 . The drug delivery graft according to  claim 3 , wherein the hollow tube comprises perforations in communication with the outer wall.  
     
     
         7 . The drug delivery graft according to  claim 3 , wherein the hollow tube comprises a porous wall in communication with the outer wall.  
     
     
         8 . The drug delivery graft according to  claim 1 , wherein the graft comprises expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.  
     
     
         9 . The drug delivery graft according to  claim 1 , wherein the drug is selected from the group consisting of a growth factor, a growth factor inhibitor, growth factor receptor antagonist, a transcriptional repressor, a translational repressor, an antisense nucleic acid, a replication inhibitor, an anti-microtubule agent, an inhibitory antibody, an antibody directed against a growth factor, a bifunctional molecules comprising a growth factor and a cytotoxin, and a bifunctional molecule comprising an antibody and a cytotoxin.