US Patent 7326245 Medical device for delivering biologically active material

This invention relates generally to a stent comprising a plurality of struts and a plurality of projecting elements integral with the struts. At least some of the struts and some of the projecting elements comprise a biologically active material. The struts are configured in a tubular shape or tubular sidewall having two ends. One end of at least one of the projecting elements defines an end of the stent when the stent is expanded. The invention is also directed to a method for delivering the biologically active material to body tissue of a patient by inserting such an expandable stent into body of the patient. The invention is further directed to a system comprising the expandable stent and a balloon catheter for expanding the stent.