SELF-SENSING STENTS, SMART MATERIALS-BASED STENTS, DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS, OTHER MEDICAL DEVICES, AND MEDICAL USES FOR PIEZO-ELECTRIC MATERIALS

摘要

A medically implantable stent comprising at least one piezo-electric material may be active, such as by one or more of: delivering an anti-coagulant or other therapeutic effect to a patient in which it is implanted; powering itself; and/or sending an outbound electronic signal to a remote device. When a stent can send such an outbound signal, a physician may non-invasively ascertain the condition of the tissue near the stent.