Biodegradable Stent Coating Integrity After Sterilization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drug delivery stents face challenges with compromised coating integrity due to ethylene oxide sterilization and crimping processes, leading to potential adhesion to delivery balloons and incomplete degradation, which can result in thrombosis and restenosis.

Innovation Solution

A biodegradable implantable device with a coating comprising a terpolymer layer and a primer layer, where the terpolymer has a glass transition temperature less than 37°C, maintaining integrity after sterilization and providing a controlled release of bioactive agents, with a degradation rate ensuring 80% mass loss within 6 months.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If an amorphous bioabsorbable polymer is used for coating a stent, then the coating can be applied, but the coating integrity is compromised during ethylene oxide sterilization and crimping processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating applicationVSAvoidcoating integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite polymer system consisting of poly(glycolide-co-caprolactone) copolymer combined with poly(D,L-lactide) or poly(L-lactide) homopolymer. This composite approach allows the coating to maintain integrity during sterilization and crimping while remaining bioabsorbable, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention modifies the polymer composition parameters by incorporating specific ratios of glycolide (30-70 mol%), caprolactone (10-40 mol%), and lactide (10-40 mol%) to achieve the desired balance between coating applicability and integrity maintenance under processing conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If the coating is designed to degrade completely, then bioabsorbability is achieved, but coating integrity may be compromised leading to thrombosis and restenosis

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebioabsorbabilityVSAvoidthrombosis and restenosis risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The coating is designed to maintain its structural integrity and protective function during the critical early period after implantation, then gradually degrade over time. This preliminary stability prevents thrombosis and restenosis, while the controlled degradation achieves complete bioabsorbability, resolving the contradiction between stability and harmful effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention controls the degradation rate by adjusting the polymer composition parameters, ensuring the coating maintains stability when needed and degrades appropriately over time to eliminate harmful effects while achieving complete bioabsorbability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The coating maintains mechanical integrity and ensures complete degradation, reducing the risk of thrombosis and restenosis by providing a controlled release of bioactive agents, effectively addressing the challenges of coating integrity and degradation.

Implementation Method 1

providing a controlled release of bioactive agents

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

degradation rate ensuring 80% mass loss within 6 months

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDegradation: Decomposition (biological)

Implementation Method 3

maintains integrity after sterilization

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolymer entanglement:

Implementation Method 4

maintains integrity after sterilization

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIntermolecular forces:

Data Source

PatentEP2429602B1Coating comprising a terpolymer comprising caprolactone and glycolide
Publication Date: 2016.01.06 ABBOTT CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS INC
  • EP2429602B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2429602B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention provides a coating comprising a reservoir layer comprising a terpolymer comprising caprolactone and glycolide and a primer layer comprising an amorphous polymer on an implantable device and methods of making and using the same.