US Patent 8353949 Medical devices with drug-eluting coating

Medical devices, such as endoprostheses, and methods of making the devices are described. In one embodiment, a medical device having a body of interconnected bands and connectors forming an elongated tubular structure having an inner luminal wall surface, an outer abluminal wall surface and a side wall surface, and defining a central lumen or passageway, wherein said inner luminal wall surface and side wall surface of the bands and connectors form transverse passageways through the elongated tubular structure is described. One or more wall surfaces of the tubular structure can bear a coating whose selected regions define at least one depression. The coating can further include at least one biologically active substance.