Method of forming hollow tubular drug eluting medical devices

Abstract

A method of a forming a hollow, drug-eluting medical device includes utilizing a hollow wire having an outer member and a lumen of the outer member, and filling the lumen with a fluid to form a supported hollow wire. The supported hollow wire is shaped into a stent pattern. Openings are formed through the outer member. The supported hollow wire is processed to remove the fluid from the lumen of the outer member without adversely affecting the outer member, leaving the hollow wire shaped into a stent pattern. The lumen is filled with a biologically or pharmacologically active substance.

1 . A method of forming a medical device comprising the steps of:
 utilizing a hollow wire having an outer member and a lumen of the outer member;   filling the lumen with a liquid to form a supported hollow wire;   shaping the supported hollow wire into a pattern;   forming openings through the outer member; and   after the step of shaping the supported hollow wire into the pattern, processing the supported hollow wire such that the liquid is removed from the lumen of the outer member without adversely affecting the outer member.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of filling the lumen of the outer member with a biologically or pharmacologically active substance after the liquid has been removed. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the biologically or pharmacologically active is selected from the group consisting of antineoplastic, antimitotic, antiinflammatory, antiplatelet, anticoagulant, anti fibrin, antithrombin, antiproliferative, antibiotic, antioxidant, and antiallergic substances as well as combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the medical device is a stent. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid is oil. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid is pressurized during the step of shaping the supported hollow wire. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid is a noncompressible fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of solidifying the liquid in the lumen prior to the step of shaping the support hollow wire. 
     
     
         9 . A method of forming a medical device comprising the steps of:
 utilizing a hollow wire having an outer member and a lumen of the outer member;   filling the lumen with a fluid;   pressurizing the fluid within the lumen to form a supported hollow wire;   shaping the supported hollow wire into a pattern;   forming openings through the outer member; and   after the step of shaping the supported hollow wire into the pattern, processing the supported hollow wire such that the fluid is removed from the lumen of the outer member without adversely affecting the outer member.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of filling the lumen of the outer member with a biologically or pharmacologically active substance after the liquid has been removed. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid is selected from the group consisting of air, water, alcohol, oils (hydrocarbon or silicone based), waxes, meltable polymers, and slurries of water and particles where the particles can be metal, silica or polymeric. 
     
     
         12 . A method of forming a medical device comprising the steps of:
 utilizing a hollow wire having an outer member and a lumen of the outer member;   filling the lumen with a liquefied wax;   solidifying the liquefied wax within the lumen to form a supported hollow wire;   shaping the supported hollow wire into a pattern;   forming openings through the outer member; and   after the step of shaping the supported hollow wire into the pattern, processing the supported hollow wire such that the wax is removed from the lumen of the outer member without adversely affecting the outer member.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of processing the supported hollow wire comprises re-liquefying the wax and draining it from the lumen. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of processing the supported hollow wire further comprises adding pressure or a vacuum to remove the re-liquefied wax from the lumen. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of re-liquefying the wax comprises heating the supported hollow wire to a temperature higher than the melt temperature of the wax and lower than the melt temperature of the outer member. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the wax is paraffin.