Surface textured implants

Abstract

Devices and methods for controlling the flaking of coating fragments from medical implants and improving the delivery of therapeutic agents from such coatings are described.

1 . A radially expandable device for introducing into the body of a subject to produce a beneficial effect, said device comprising:
 an upper surface that contacts tissue at a treatment site; wherein said upper surface comprises a coating and one or more texture features designed to interact with said coating and control fragments of said coating that flake off said upper surface as a result of radial expansion of said device at said treatment site.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said texture features control the size of said fragments. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said texture features control the shape of said fragments. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said texture features control the quantity of said fragments. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said texture features comprise one or more peaks. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said texture features comprise one or more valleys. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said texture features comprise one or more peaks and valleys. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5  wherein said peaks comprise stress risers. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein said stress risers control the initiation and propagation of stress fractures in said coating. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said texture features comprise one or more plateaus. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said texture features comprise one or more peaks, valleys and plateaus. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said fragments are too small to cause thrombi. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said fragments are too small to cause emboli. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said coating contains a therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said coating controls the size of said fragments such that the fragments do not exceed a width of 1 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said coating controls the size of said fragments such that the maximum width of fragments are from 0.1 to 50 microns. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said coating controls the size of said fragments such that the surface area of fragments are from 1 to 10,000 μm 2 .