A Model of Drug Deposition Within Artery Walls

摘要

The use of medication for the treatment of cardiovascular disease has many manifestations. One of the most critical is the incorporation of medication into interventional treatments such as atherectomy, stenting, or angioplasty. The medication that is used is often able to inhibit restonsis of the clogged region and can increase long-term therapeutic benefit. In order for the medication to be effective, it must reach certain concentration levels within the tissue that constitutes the artery wall. When the medication is impregnated within the coating of a stent, a slow diffusion process occurs and the tissue concentrations rise slowly over time. Other medication implantation methods can also be used. For instance, it is possible to coat the balloon used to open the clogged artery with a medication. Alternative means of injecting the medication into the artery include the use of forced flow through a porous balloon that can be inflated in the target region. The flow would ooze through the porous balloon and into the tissue.