Method of Forming a Drug-Eluting Medical Device

摘要

A method of forming a stent includes the steps of forming an elongated composite member or plurality of elongated composite members into a stent pattern having struts interconnected by crowns, the composite member including an outer member and a core member. Openings are formed through the outer member of the composite member. The composite member is processed to remove the core member from at least a plurality of the struts of the stent without adversely affecting the outer member and such that the core member is not removed from at least a plurality of the crowns of the stent, thereby leaving the outer member with a lumen in at least a plurality of the struts and the outer member with the core member in at least a plurality of the crowns. The lumens may then be filled with a biologically or pharmacologically active substance.