The present invention relates to devices, methods and systems for retrieval and/or repositioning of an implanted stent. More particularly, the present invention relates to implantable stents having a stent retrieval member or loop for easy retrieval and/or repositioning of the implanted stent.
An intraluminal prosthesis is a medical device used in the treatment of diseased bodily lumens. One type of intraluminal prosthesis used in the repair and/or treatment of diseases in various body vessels is a stent. A stent is a generally longitudinal tubular device formed of biocompatible material which is useful to open and support various lumens in the body. For example, stents may be used in the vascular system, urogenital tract, esophageal tract, tracheal/bronchial tubes and bile duct, as well as in a variety of other applications in the body. These devices are implanted within the vessel to open and/or reinforce collapsing or partially occluded sections of the lumen.
Stents generally include an open flexible configuration. This configuration allows the stent to be inserted through curved vessels. Furthermore, this configuration allows the stent to be configured in a radially compressed state for intraluminal catheter implantation. Once properly positioned adjacent the damaged vessel, the stent is radially expanded so as to support and reinforce the vessel. Radial expansion of the stent may be accomplished by inflation of a balloon attached to the catheter or the stent may be of the self-expanding variety which will radially expand once deployed.
Prior retrieval systems, for example as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,821,291 to Bolea et al., may appear easy to use, but often are limited to a specific tool for removal and/or require certain user-sensitive techniques, such as twisting or turning in order to reposition or remove the stent. Moreover, in smaller stents, such as biliary stents, the spacing between conventional stent segments is generally smaller than the size of standard forceps or graspers, making it even difficult to grab a portion of the stent.
The present invention provides an implantable device, for example a stent, including a braided stent, having a retrieval and/or repositioning member. The implantable device is formed from one or more elongated filaments wound or braided to form a tubular device having opposed first open end, a second open end, a tubular body therebetween. The device has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The retrieval and/or repositioning member includes an elongated portion extending from the first open end and the retrieval and/or repositioning member interlooping circumferentially about the first open end such that force exerted on the elongated portion causes radially contraction of the device.
In another aspect of the present invention, one or more elongated filaments are wound or braided to form a tubular implantable device or stent having a retrieval and/or repositioning member and opposed first open end and a second open end with each open end having a circumference and a tubular body therebetween is provided. The first open end is defined by series of closed-end loops. The retrieval and/or repositioning member has a first section including at least one elongated closed-end loop extending from the first open end, and a second section emerging from the braided tubular body, interwoven with at least one closed-end loop and integrally extending into the first section whereby force exerted on the elongated closed-end loop causes radially contraction of the tubular device.
In a further aspect of the present invention, a method for producing a tubular wound or braided implantable device or stent having opposed first end and second end and having an integral retrieval and/or repositioning loop at the first end is provided. The tubular wound or braided device or stent includes the steps of selecting a single elongate biocompatible filament having opposed ends; forming a retrieval and/or repositioning member from the single filament comprising an elongated loop which extends above the first end to permit grabbing of the loop by a practitioner to radially contract the stent; and winding or braiding the single filament, optionally with other filaments, to form the device or stent.
Thus, there is a need for a single wire retrieval and/or repositioning member that provides both improved stent end cinching and improved stent body radial contraction. Further, there is a need for a single wire retrieval and/or repositioning member that is capable of cinching the end of the stent and radially contracting the stent body using a variety of devices used by a practitioner. Furthermore, there is a need for a single wire retrieval and/or repositioning member that provides for substantially even radial contraction of the stent end and stent body and permits easy access by a practitioner to the pulling member of the stent.
The present invention provides at least one single wire retrieval and/or repositioning member which is integral and formed from one of the filaments or wires used to form the braided stent. The retrieval and/or repositioning member is designed to provide a structure which has the required tensile strength to prevent fracture or damage to the stent when force is applied to reposition or retrieve the stent, yet allows for a very low delivery profile such that it can easily be loaded onto a delivery device without interfering with the deployment into the body or requiring increased deployment force. Because the retrieval and/or repositioning member is an integral part of the actual braiding or winding for the stent structure per se, as opposed to being a separate add-on element, no joining, i.e., welding, crimping, twisting, of the retrieval and/or repositioning member to the stent structure is necessary. Tensile strength of the retrieval and/or repositioning member may thus be maximized while concomitantly maintaining the lowest profile for delivery to a patient. The wire or wires used to form at least one retrieval and/or repositioning member may be of the same type and material as the other wires forming the braided stent, or alternatively they may be made from different types or materials. In one desirable embodiment, the retrieval and/or repositioning member is made from a single wire which is also used to form the braided stent or at least part of the braided stent. In this manner, the retrieval and/or repositioning member can further seamlessly transition into the body of the stent. As used herein, the phrase “retrieval and/or repositioning member” refers to a retrieval member, a repositioning member, or a combination thereof which is integrally formed with a stent and, when a longitudinally pulling force is applied thereto, aids in the radial contraction or cinching of the entire stent equally to facilitate movement, retrieval and/or repositioning of the stent.
More than one retrieval and/or repositioning member may be incorporated into the stent. For example, each stent end might have one or more retrieval and/or repositioning members, as shown in
As depicted in
The stent 30 is desirably an atraumatic stent having no sharp terminating members at one or both of the opposed first and second open ends 32, 34. The elongate wires 38 terminating at open end 32 are mated to form closed-end loops 40 and adjacently mated wires are secured to one and the other by mechanical means, such as welds. The positioning of adjacently mated wires to form closed-end loop designs is further described in U.S. Published Application Nos. US 2005-0049682 A1, and 2006-0116752 A1, the contents of all which are incorporated herein by reference. Desirably, the elongate wires 38 terminating at open end 32 are in a cathedral type arch or loop configuration. Further details of the cathedral type of arch or closed-loop configuration may be found in U.S. Application Publication No. 2005-0256563 A1, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. In any event, the current invention is useful with various stent designs, including those without atraumatic ends.
Desirably, the wires 38 are made from any suitable implantable material, including without limitation nitinol, stainless steel, cobalt-based alloy such as Elgiloy®, platinum, gold, titanium, tantalum, niobium, polymeric materials and combinations thereof. Useful and nonlimiting examples of polymeric stent materials include poly(L-lactide) (PLLA), poly(D,L-lactide) (PLA), poly(glycolide) (PGA), poly(L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide) (PLLA/PLA), poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLLA/PGA), poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLA/PGA), poly(glycolide-co-trimethylene carbonate) (PGA/PTMC), polydioxanone (PDS), Polycaprolactone (PCL), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHBT), poly(phosphazene) poly(D,L-lactide-co-caprolactone) PLA/PCL), poly(glycolide-co-caprolactone) (PGA/PCL), polyphosphate ester) and the like. Wires made from polymeric materials may be also include radiopaque materials, such as metallic-based powders, particulates or pastes which may be incorporated into the polymeric material. For example the radiopaque material may be blended with the polymer composition from which the polymeric wire is formed, and subsequently fashioned into the stent as described herein. Alternatively, the radiopaque material may be applied to the surface of the metal or polymer stent. In either embodiment, various radiopaque materials and their salts and derivatives may be used including, without limitation, bismuth, barium and its salts such as barium sulphate, tantulaum, tungsten, gold, platinum and titanium, to name a few. Additional useful radiopaque materials may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,936, which is herein incorporated in its entirely by reference. Metallic complexes useful as radiopaque materials are also contemplated. The stent may be selectively made radiopaque at desired areas along the wire or made be fully radiopaque, depending on the desired end-product and application. Further, the wires 38 have an inner core of tantalum, gold, platinum, iridium or combination of thereof and an outer member or layer of nitinol to provide a composite wire for improved radiocapicity or visibility. Desirably, the inner core is platinum and the outer layer is nitinol. More desirably, the inner core of platinum represents about at least 10% of the wire based on the overall cross-sectional percentage. Moreover, nitinol that has not been treated for shape memory such as by heating, shaping and cooling the nitinol at its martensitic and austenitic phases, is also useful as the outer layer. Further details of such composite wires may be found in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2002/0035396 A1, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. Preferably, the wires 38 are made from nitinol, or a composite wire having a central core of platinum and an outer layer of nitinol. Further, the filling weld material, if required by welding processes such as MIG, may also be made from nitinol, stainless steel, cobalt-based alloy such as Elgiloy, platinum, gold, titanium, tantalum, niobium, and combinations thereof, preferably nitinol. The material of the cathode is no critical and can be made out of any suitable metal. The filling weld material and the wire 38 may be made of the same material, for example nitinol.
Further, the wires 38 may have a composite construction, such as described found in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2002/0035396 A1, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. For example, the wires 38 may have an inner core of tantalum gold, platinum, iridium or combination of thereof and an outer member or layer of nitinol to provide a composite wire for improved radiocapicity or visibility. Preferably, the wires 38 are made from nitinol.
Either or both of the opposed open ends 32, 34 of the stent 30 may have a retrieval and/or repositioning member 42 thereat. The retrieval and/or repositioning member 42 is useful for retrieval and/or repositioning of an implanted or deployed stent 30. The retrieval and/or repositioning member 42 allows a practitioner to contract and move, reposition and/or retrieve the stent 30 within an implanted lumen (not shown). The retrieval and/or repositioning member 42 may be made from a wire, including but not limited to a memory shape alloy, such as the above described materials, including nitinol. The use of a wire, as compared other convention materials such as suture thread, has numerous advantages. For example, the self-supporting nature of the wire facilitates the locating of the retrieval and/or repositioning member. A wire will not tangle, a potential problem with suture loops, especially with suture loops made from natural or polymeric threads or filaments, and will also aid in opening the stent 30. Another advantage from using a wire material is the wire loop defining the retrieval and/or repositioning member would be less likely to break than a plastic or polymeric loop when a pulling force is applied, such as required for repositioning or removal of the stent 30.
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In further detail, stent 60 of
The retrieval and/or repositioning members of the present invention may be formed by wrapping one wire around template pins fixedly or removably disposed on a mandrel prior to winding or braiding the stent to form the first section and second section. The first section can be formed by wrapping the wire around a template pins positioned on the mandrel to cause the desired looped shape. The first section is a larger exaggerated section, such as grabbing area, for easy grabbing by the practitioner or physician. The first section may be bent or twisted as desired to form the desired geometric shape of the first section. The first section may be angularly bent and extended from the mandrel, the second section may extend from the angularly bend from the first section and perpendicularly from the first section. The second section may be formed by continuing to wrap the wire perimetrically about the mandrel forming the circumference of one end of the stent which is generally circular. A pulling force on the retrieval and/or repositioning member will cause cinching of the braid to a smaller diameter as it lengthens axially, thus allowing for less frictional force against the vessel wall and permitting retrieval and/or repositioning of the deployed stent. The retrieval and/or repositioning member wire is used to form the braided stent using the braiding technique as described herein. Additional details for braiding wires may be found in U.S. Application No. 61/147,307, filed Jan. 26, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The retrieval and/or repositioning member can be interlaced with one or more adjacent end loops as the braided stent is being formed. Having the retrieval and/or repositioning member interlaced with one or more, and desirably at least two, adjacent closed-end loops provides for cinching of the stent end upon applying the pulling force to the retrieval and/or repositioning member.
The stent of the present invention is made from a continuous single wire strand or a multiple of single wire strands. Further, a strand may include many wires that have been welded or attached together to form the continuous single strand. For example, multiple wires may be attached end to end to form a single continuous wire without edges and free unattached ends. Once the braiding of the stent has been completed, the ends of the wire, the beginning end and the ending end, may be connected together by various means, e.g., via welding, to form a continuous closed loop braided stent. Additionally, the retrieval and/or repositioning member may also have the same or different properties than other wire(s) which form the braided stent. For example, it may be of the same or different stiffness or flexibility, all of which may be tailored for a particular application. The choice of material, wire diameter, geometry and pre-treatment of the wires and stent configuration are some of the factors which may be varied to achieve particular stent properties. Additionally, as mentioned herein, the at least one retrieval and/or repositioning member may also be made radiopaque by various methods, for example with a coating or finish, with a band or as part of the stent material, as further described herein. Color or different finishes may also be added to the retrieval and/or repositioning member to visually differentiate it from the rest of the stent wires. In some embodiments such as were polymer wires are used, attachment means may include melting the polymeric wires
The stent may have weld joints which, due to their positioning, provide higher radial strength, i.e., the resultant stents can withstand higher radial compressive forces without fear of weld failure. Wire ends to be welded may be disposed about islands or gaps on a mandrel (not shown). After the welds are formed or while the welds are being formed wire portions not forming the stent may be cut or otherwise removed from the stent braiding pattern.
Further, the stent of the present invention may have a coating. In one embodiment, the coating is a tubular covering of silicone. The stent may be placed on a coating mandrel (not shown) and may further include a tie after which the assembly can be dipped into a silicone solution to form the coating. In one embodiment, the retrieval and/or repositioning member portion is not silicone covered. In one embodiment the coating or covering may be a silicone covering, but other coverings, particularly elastomeric polymers, are useful. The coating embeds the stent therein and essentially forms a stent covering. In some embodiments when coating, it may be desirable not to embed the retrieval and/or repositioning member section in the covering, although the other wire portions emanating from the retrieval and/or repositioning member which form the braid of the stent may be coated. To prevent coating of the retrieval and/or repositioning member section, the mandrel may be truncated or geometrically altered such that it does not permit coating of the retrieval and/or repositioning member, or the retrieval and/or repositioning member can be pulled away from the mandrel during coating and formation of the polymer covering.
The stent may be fully, substantially or partially covered or lined with a polymeric material. The stent may also be embedded in a polymeric coating. The covering may be in the form of a tubular structure. Nonlimiting examples of useful polymeric materials include polyesters, polypropylenes, polyethylenes, polyurethanes, polynaphthalenes, polytetrafluoroethylenes, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, silicone, and combinations and copolymers thereof. In some embodiments, the polymeric material is silicone. The polymeric material and/or silicone may be disposed on external surfaces of the stent, or disposed on the internal surfaces of the stent or combinations thereof.
With any embodiment, the stent may be used for a number of purposes including to maintain patency of a body lumen, vessel or conduit, such as in the coronary or peripheral vasculature, esophagus, trachea, bronchi, colon, biliary tract, pancreatic duct, urinary tract, prostate, brain, and the like. The devices of the present invention may also be used to support a weakened body lumen or to provide a fluid-tight conduit for a body lumen.
Stents of the present invention, for example stent 30, may be placed at a variety of bodily locations. In some aspects of the present invention, the tubular wall 36 of the stent 30 is disposed with a bodily lumen and one end of the stent, for example stent end 32 with the retrieval and/or repositioning member 42, may be disposed beyond the bodily lumen being supported by the tubular wall 36 of the stent 30. In such cases, the retrieval and/or repositioning member 42 is often disposed in a larger bodily lumen organ such that the member 42 may be more easily accessed by a practitioner. For example, the tubular wall 36 of the stent 30 may be placed within the biliary duct and the stent end 32 with the retrieval and/or repositioning member 42 may be located within the duodenum where the member 42 is more easily accessed by a practitioner. Such aspects, however, are not limiting and the stent 30 may be suitably placed with any bodily lumen and/or organ including combinations of bodily lumens and/or organs.
The stent of the present invention may be treated with a therapeutic agent or agents. “Therapeutic agents”, “pharmaceuticals,” “pharmaceutically active agents”, “drugs” “genetic materials”, “biologically active materials” and other related terms may be used interchangeably herein and include genetic therapeutic agents, non-genetic therapeutic agents and cells. The term “genetic material” means DNA or RNA, including, without limitation, DNA/RNA encoding a useful protein stated below, intended to be inserted into a human body including viral vectors and non-viral vectors. Therapeutic agents may be used singly or in combination. A wide variety of therapeutic agents can be employed in conjunction with the present invention including those used for the treatment of a wide variety of diseases and conditions (i.e., the prevention of a disease or condition, the reduction or elimination of symptoms associated with a disease or condition, or the substantial or complete elimination of a disease or condition).
The term “biological materials” include cells, yeasts, bacterial, proteins, peptides, cytokines and hormones. Examples for peptides and proteins include vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor (TGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), cartilage growth factor (CGF), nerve growth factor (NGF), keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), skeletal growth factor (SGF), osteoblast-derived growth factor (BDGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), cytokine growth factors (CGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), stem cell derived factor (SDF), stem cell factor (SCF), endothelial cell growth supplement (ECGS), granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), growth differentiation factor (GDF), integrin modulating factor (IMF), calmodulin (CaM), thymidine kinase (TK), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), growth hormone (GH), bone morphogenic protein (BMP) (e.g., BMP-2, BMP-3, BMP-4, BMP-5, BMP-6 (Vgr-1), BMP-7 (P0-1), BMP-8, BMP-9, BMP-10, BMP-11, BMP-12, BMP-14, BMP-15, BMP-16, etc.), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP), cytokines, interleukin (e.g., IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-11, IL-12, IL-15, etc.), lymphokines, interferon, integrin, collagen (all types), elastin, fibrillins, fibronectin, vitronectin, laminin, glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans, transferring, cytotactin, cell binding domains (e.g., RGD), and tenascin. Exemplary BMP's are BMP-2, BMP-3, BMP-4, BMP-5, BMP-6, BMP-7. These dimeric proteins can be provided as homodimers, heterodimers, or combinations thereof, alone or together with other molecules. Cells can be of human origin (autologous or allogeneic) or from an animal source (xenogeneic), genetically engineered, if desired, to deliver proteins of interest at the transplant site. The delivery media can be formulated as needed to maintain cell function and viability. Cells include progenitor cells (e.g., endothelial progenitor cells), stem cells (e.g., mesenchymal, hematopoietic, neuronal), stromal cells, parenchymal cells, undifferentiated cells, fibroblasts, macrophage, and satellite cells.
Non-limiting examples of useful therapeutic agents include, but are not limited to, adrenergic agents, adrenocortical steroids, adrenocortical suppressants, alcohol deterrents, aldosterone antagonists, amino acids and proteins, ammonia detoxicants, anabolic agents, analeptic agents, analgesic agents, androgenic agents, anesthetic agents, anorectic compounds, anorexic agents, antagonists, anterior pituitary activators and suppressants, anthelmintic agents, anti-adrenergic agents, anti-allergic agents, anti-amebic agents, anti-androgen agents, anti-anemic agents, anti-anginal agents, anti-anxiety agents, anti-arthritic agents, anti-asthmatic agents, anti-atherosclerotic agents, antibacterial agents, anticholelithic agents, anticholelithogenic agents, anticholinergic agents, anticoagulants, anticoccidal agents, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, antidiabetic agents, antidiuretics, antidotes, antidyskinetics agents, anti-emetic agents, anti-epileptic agents, anti-estrogen agents, antifibrinolytic agents, antifungal agents, antiglaucoma agents, antihemophilic agents, antihemophilic Factor, antihemorrhagic agents, antihistaminic agents, antihyperlipidemic agents, antihyperlipoproteinemic agents, antihypertensives, antihypotensives, anti-infective agents, anti-inflammatory agents, antikeratinizing agents, antimicrobial agents, antimigraine agents, antimitotic agents, antimycotic agents, antineoplastic agents, anti-cancer supplementary potentiating agents, antineutropenic agents, antiobsessional agents, antiparasitic agents, antiparkinsonian drugs, antipneumocystic agents, antiproliferative agents, antiprostatic hypertrophydrugs, antiprotozoal agents, antipruritics, antipsoriatic agents, antipsychotics, antirheumatic agents, antischistosomal agents, antiseborrheic agents, antispasmodic agents, antithrombotic agents, antitussive agents, anti-ulcerative agents, anti-urolithic agents, antiviral agents, benign prostatic hyperplasia therapy agents, blood glucose regulators, bone resorption inhibitors, bronchodilators, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, cardiac depressants, cardioprotectants, cardiotonic agents, cardiovascular agents, choleretic agents, cholinergic agents, cholinergic agonists, cholinesterase deactivators, coccidiostat agents, cognition adjuvants and cognition enhancers, depressants, diagnostic aids, diuretics, dopaminergic agents, ectoparasiticides, emetic agents, enzyme inhibitors, estrogens, fibrinolytic agents, free oxygen radical scavengers, gastrointestinal motility agents, glucocorticoids, gonad-stimulating principles, hemostatic agents, histamine H2 receptor antagonists, hormones, hypocholesterolemic agents, hypoglycemic agents, hypolipidemic agents, hypotensive agents, HMGCoA reductase inhibitors, immunizing agents, immunomodulators, immunoregulators, immunostimulants, immunosuppressants, impotence therapy adjuncts, keratolytic agents, LHRH agonists, luteolysin agents, mucolytics, mucosal protective agents, mydriatic agents, nasal decongestants, neuroleptic agents, neuromuscular blocking agents, neuroprotective agents, NMDA antagonists, non-hormonal sterol derivatives, oxytocic agents, plasminogen activators, platelet activating factor antagonists, platelet aggregation inhibitors, post-stroke and post-head trauma treatments, progestins, prostaglandins, prostate growth inhibitors, prothyrotropin agents, psychotropic agents, radioactive agents, repartitioning agents, scabicides, sclerosing agents, sedatives, sedative-hypnotic agents, selective adenosine A1 antagonists, adenosine A2 receptor antagonists (e.g., CGS 21680, regadenoson, UK 432097 or GW 328267), serotonin antagonists, serotonin inhibitors, serotonin receptor antagonists, steroids, stimulants, thyroid hormones, thyroid inhibitors, thyromimetic agents, tranquilizers, unstable angina agents, uricosuric agents, vasoconstrictors, vasodilators, vulnerary agents, wound healing agents, xanthine oxidase inhibitors, and the like, and combinations thereof.
Useful non-genetic therapeutic agents for use in connection with the present invention include, but are not limited to,
Other therapeutic agents include nitroglycerin, nitrous oxides, nitric oxides, antibiotics, aspirins, digitalis, estrogen, estradiol, halafuginone, phospholamban inhibitors and glycosides. Exemplary therapeutic agents include anti-proliferative drugs such as steroids, vitamins, and restenosis-inhibiting agents. Exemplary restonosis-inhibiting agents include microtubule stabilizing agents such as Taxol®, paclitaxel (i.e., paclitaxel, paxlitaxel analogs, or paclitaxel derivatives, and mixtures thereof). For example, derivatives suitable for use in the medical devices include 2′-succinyl-taxol, 2′-succinyl-taxol triethanolamine, 2′-glutaryl-taxol, 2′ glutaryl-taxol triethanolamine salt, 2′-O-ester with N-(dimethylaminoethyl)glutamine, and 2′-O-ester with N-(dimethylaminoethyl)glutamide hydrochloride salt.
Further examples of non-genetic therapeutic agents, not necessarily exclusive of those listed above, include taxanes such as paclitaxel (including particulate forms thereof, for instance, protein-bound paclitaxel particles such as albumin-bound paclitaxel nanoparticles, e.g., Abraxane™), sirolimus, everolimus, tacrolimus, zotarolimus, Epo D, dexamethasone, estradiol, halofuginone, cilostazole, geldanamycin, alagebrium chloride (ALT-711), ABT-578 (Abbott Laboratories), trapidil, liprostin, Actinomcin D, Resten-NG, Ap-17, abciximab, clopidogrel, Ridogrel, beta-blockers, bARKct inhibitors, phospholamban inhibitors, Serca 2 gene/protein, imiquimod, human apolioproteins (e.g., AI-AV), growth factors (e.g., VEGF-2), as well derivatives of the forgoing, among others.
Useful genetic therapeutic agents for use in connection with the present invention include, but are not limited to, anti-sense DNA and RNA as well as DNA coding for the various proteins (as well as the proteins themselves), such as (a) anti-sense RNA; (b) tRNA or rRNA to replace defective or deficient endogenous molecules; (c) angiogenic and other factors including growth factors such as acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors, vascular endothelial growth factor, endothelial mitogenic growth factors, epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor α and β, platelet-derived endothelial growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, tumor necrosis factor α, hepatocyte growth factor and insulin-like growth factor; (d) cell cycle inhibitors including CD inhibitors, and (e) thymidine kinase (“TK”) and other agents useful for interfering with cell proliferation. DNA encoding for the family of bone morphogenic proteins (“BMP's”) are also useful and include, but not limited to, BMP-2, BMP-3, BMP-4, BMP-5, BMP-6 (Vgr-1), BMP-7 (OP-1), BMP-8, BMP-9, BMP-10, BMP-11, BMP-12, BMP-13, BMP-14, BMP-15, and BMP-16. Currently desirably BMP's are any of BMP-2, BMP-3, BMP-4, BMP-5, BMP-6 and BMP-7. These dimeric proteins can be provided as homodimers, heterodimers, or combinations thereof, alone or together with other molecules. Alternatively, or in addition, molecules capable of inducing an upstream or downstream effect of a BMP can be provided. Such molecules include any of the “hedgehog” proteins, or the DNA's encoding them.
Vectors for delivery of genetic therapeutic agents include, but not limited to, viral vectors such as adenoviruses, gutted adenoviruses, adeno-associated virus, retroviruses, alpha virus (Semliki Forest, Sindbis, etc.), lentiviruses, herpes simplex virus, replication competent viruses (e.g., ONYX-015) and hybrid vectors; and non-viral vectors such as artificial chromosomes and mini-chromosomes, plasmid DNA vectors (e.g., pCOR), cationic polymers (e.g., polyethyleneimine, polyethyleneimine (PEI)), graft copolymers (e.g., polyether-PEI and polyethylene oxide-PEI), neutral polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), SP1017 (SUPRATEK), lipids such as cationic lipids, liposomes, lipoplexes, nanoparticles, or microparticles, with and without targeting sequences such as the protein transduction domain (PTD).
Cells for use in connection with the present invention may include cells of human origin (autologous or allogeneic), including whole bone marrow, bone marrow derived mono-nuclear cells, progenitor cells (e.g., endothelial progenitor cells), stem cells (e.g., mesenchymal, hematopoietic, neuronal), pluripotent stem cells, fibroblasts, myoblasts, satellite cells, pericytes, cardiomyocytes, skeletal myocytes or macrophage, or from an animal, bacterial or fungal source (xenogeneic), which can be genetically engineered, if desired, to deliver proteins of interest.
Numerous therapeutic agents, not necessarily exclusive of those listed above, have been identified as candidates for vascular treatment regimens, for example, as agents targeting restenosis (antirestenotics). Such agents are useful for the practice of the present invention and include one or more of the following:
Numerous additional therapeutic agents useful for the practice of the present invention are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,925 to Kunz, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.
A wide range of therapeutic agent loadings may used in connection with the dosage forms of the present invention, with the pharmaceutically effective amount being readily determined by those of ordinary skill in the art and ultimately depending, for example, upon the condition to be treated, the nature of the therapeutic agent itself, the tissue into which the dosage form is introduced, and so forth.
Further, with any embodiment of the stent the general tubular shape may be varied. For example, the tubular shape may have a varied diameter, may be tapered, and may have an outwardly flared end and the like. Further, the ends of the stent may have a larger diameter than the middle regions of the stent. In one particularly useful embodiment, at least one of the ends of the stent transition from one diameter to another diameter. Desirably, both ends transition in this manner to yield “flared” ends.
The stent may be coated with a polymeric material. For example, the stent wires may be partially or fully covered with a biologically active material which is elutably disposed with the polymeric material. Further, the polymeric coating may extend over or through the interstitial spaces between the stent wires so as to provide a hollow tubular liner or cover over the interior or the exterior surface of the stent. The polymeric material may be selected from the group consisting of polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, polynaphthalene, polytetrafluoroethylene, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, silicone, and combinations thereof.
Various stent types and stent constructions may be employed in the invention. Among the various stents useful include, without limitation, self-expanding stents and balloon expandable extents. The stents may be capable of radially contracting, as well and in this sense can best be described as radially distensible or deformable. Self-expanding stents include those that have a spring-like action which causes the stent to radially expand, or stents which expand due to the memory properties of the stent material for a particular configuration at a certain temperature. Nitinol is one material which has the ability to perform well while both in spring-like mode, as well as in a memory mode based on temperature. Other materials are of course contemplated, such as stainless steel, platinum, gold, titanium and other biocompatible metals, as well as polymeric stents. The configuration of the stent may also be chosen from a host of geometries. For example, wire stents can be fastened into a continuous helical pattern, with or without a wave-like or zig-zag in the wire, to form a radially deformable stent. Individual rings or circular members can be linked together such as by struts, sutures, welding or interlacing or locking of the rings to form a tubular stent. Tubular stents useful in the present invention also include those formed by etching or cutting a pattern from a tube. Such stents are often referred to as slotted stents. Furthermore, stents may be formed by etching a pattern into a material or mold and depositing stent material in the pattern, such as by chemical vapor deposition or the like. Examples of various stent configurations are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,569 to Dotter; U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,665 to Palmaz; U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,561 to Hillstead; U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,568 to Gianturco; U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,152 to Wallsten, U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,062 to Wiktor, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,448 to Thompson, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,007,574, 6,309,415, 7,60,323, 7,419,502 and 7,419,503 to Pulnev et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,311,031 to McCullagh et al.; and U.S. Pat. Application Publication No. 2007/0118206 to Colgan et al., all of whose contents are incorporated herein by reference.
The invention being thus described, it will now be evident to those skilled in the art that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims. Further, any of the embodiments or aspects of the invention as described in the claims may be used with one and another without limitation.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/244,206, filed Sep. 21, 2009, the contents of all of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61244206 | Sep 2009 | US |