US Patent 9283305 Hollow tubular drug eluting medical devices

A method of a forming a hollow, drug-eluting medical device includes providing composite member having an outer member and a core member disposed within a lumen of the outer member. The composite member is shaped into a pattern. Openings are formed through the outer member of the composite member. The composite member is processed to remove the core member from the lumen of the outer member without harming the outer member, leaving a hollow tubular member already formed into the desired pattern. The lumen of the outer member is filled with a therapeutic substance.