URETERAL STENTS FOR RELEASE OF UROLOGICALLY BENEFICIAL AGENTS

摘要

According to one aspect of the invention, ureteral stents are provided thatcomprise anelongated stent body and a urologically beneficial agent. The elongated stentbodycomprises a kidney portion adapted to occupy the kidney of a subject uponimplantation,a ureter portion adapted to occupy the ureter of a subject upon implantation,and abladder portion adapted to occupy the bladder of a subject upon implantation.Theureteral stents of the invention are adapted to release the urologicallybeneficial agentinto the subject. Moreover, the amount of urologically beneficial agent thatis releasedvaries along the length of the stent. Other aspects of the invention pertainto methods offorming such stents and methods of using such stents.