This invention relates generally to medical devices, such as stents, for delivering a biologically active material to a desired location within the body of a patient. In particular, the invention relates generally to a
medical device for delivering a biologically active material to a surface of a body lumen. More particularly, the invention is directed to a
medical device comprising two opposing end sections, each having a surface, and a middle portion. The middle portion comprises a plurality of struts and the two opposing end sections comprises non-structural elements. The end sections of the surface either (1) contain a greater amount of a biologically active material per unit length of the surface or (2) have a greater capacity per unit length to contain such material than the middle section of the surface by having a greater surface area per unit length of the surface than the middle section or having a greater affinity for the biologically active material per unit length of the surface than the middle section. The struts and the non-structural elements comprise biologically active materials. The invention is also directed to a method for delivering the biologically active material to the
body tissue of a patient by inserting this
medical device into the body of the patient. Still further, the invention is directed to a method of treating a body lumen surface by preventing or treating
restenosis or
hyperplasia, using the
system of the invention. Still further, the invention is directed to a
stent having a sidewall which comprises a middle section, a first end section and a second end section. The
stent also comprises a band comprising a biologically active material. The band is connected to the first end section and / or second end section of the
stent.