Coated implants

Abstract

A prosthesis comprising a water-dissolvable coating. A prosthesis for a lacrimal canaliculus comprising a swellable punctal plug with a proximal end and a distal end, with the plug comprising a water-dissolvable biocompatible coating on the distal and/or the proximal end. Materials and methods for making and using the same. A prosthesis for placement in or across natural or prosthetic lumens, ostia, ducts, sinus, or sphincters, the prosthesis comprising a coating. The prosthesis can further provide a depot for sustained drug delivery to tissue.

1 . A method for delivery of a prosthesis to a lumen, the prosthesis comprising a water-dissolvable biocompatible coating on a distal and/or a proximal end of the prosthesis. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  comprising placing the prosthesis in a natural lumen or an artificial lumen. 
     
     
         3 . A process of applying a coating to a prosthesis comprising
 melting a polymer and applying the coating to the prosthesis or   exposing a prosthesis to a solution comprising the polymer, with the polymer being in solution in a solvent that is not a solvent for the prosthesis.