US Patent 8048441 - Nanobead releasing medical devices

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/8048441.html


This patent from Abbott Cardiovascular Systems includes some broad claims for drug delivery vascular stents including nanobead layers encapsulating bioactive agents. Claim 1 reads:

1. A medical device comprising

a coating, the coating comprising nanobeads embedded in the coating, and the coating comprising a polymer and a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic materials, bioglass, and combinations thereof;

wherein the coating provides for a controlled release of a bioactive agent or agents encapsulated in the nanobeads, and the nanobeads comprise the one or more bioactive agents and a matrix, the one or more bioactive agents dispersed in the matrix of the nanobeads and the nanobeads being without a shell surrounding the matrix.