Ureteral stents for release of urologically beneficial agents

摘要

According to one aspect of the invention, ureteral stents are provided that comprise an elongated stent body and a urologically beneficial agent. The elongated stent body comprises a kidney portion adapted to occupy the kidney of a subject upon implantation, a ureter portion adapted to occupy the ureter of a subject upon implantation, and a bladder portion adapted to occupy the bladder of a subject upon implantation. The ureteral stents of the invention are adapted to release the urologically beneficial agent into the subject. Moreover, the amount of urologically beneficial agent that is released varies along the length of the stent. Other aspects of the invention pertain to methods of forming such stents and methods of using such stents.