MXPA06004926A - Method for coating implants by way of a printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for applying a defined amount of a coating material to the surface of an implant by way of a printing method, especially using a printing roller. The invention also relates to the use of a printing method, especially of a printing roller for applying a defined amount of a coating material to the surface of an implant to be coated, and to coated implants produced by this method.

Description

METHOD FOR COATING IMPLANTS BY WAY OF A PRINTING METHOD The present invention relates to a process and a device for applying a defined amount of a coating material on the surface of an implant in the manner of a printing method, in particular using a printing roller. The invention also relates to the use of a printing method, in particular a printing roller, to apply a defined amount of a coating material on the surface of the implant to be coated and with the correspondingly produced coated implants. In order to reduce the body's own defense reactions against foreign implants or to avoid them as far as possible, the coated implants increasingly used in the field of medicine in order to improve the biological compatibility of the implant materials used , to allow better integration into the surrounding tissue and to "camouflage" the implant material foreign to the body vis-a-vis the immune system. In addition, implants coated or impregnated with pharmacologically effective substances are being used more and more which allows targeted release of the active ingredient locally at the site of implant use. Many processes for coating implants are known in the prior art. The methods normally used to apply coatings on implants are, for example, brush application, varnishing and, in particular, immersion and similar processes. The coating of complex medical implants such as, for example, coronary stents, joint prostheses and, in particular, also surgical implants which increasingly require greater precision of application with respect to the exact determination of the amount of the coating and / or the coating material that will be applied, particularly if medicinal active ingredients are applied, but also with a view towards the quality and durability of the coating. Immersion or immersion processes are often used. These processes have the disadvantage that the exact amount of the pharmacologically active agent absorbed depends to a large extent on the absorption or adsorption characteristics and the selected coating conditions. This makes precise determination of the amount of the pharmacologically active agent actually applied to be difficult and / or subject to variations related to the process. In this way, there are usually differences between the theoretical and practical absorption capacity of the porous implant surfaces for each individual active agent that will be applied, which can be considerable in some cases. From DE 198 49467, it is known that endovascular prostheses coated with carrier polymers can be derived with cyclodextrins in which the pharmacologically active agents can be incorporated. In this case, the amount of the cyclodextrins applied on the surface determines the amount that can be absorbed from the active agent in a manner that is relatively satisfactory to reproduce. As a result, the maximum dose of active agent that will be absorbed in the coating can be determined.

A disadvantage of the process of the DE 198 49 467, however, consists in the fact that the surface of the stents needs to be coated with a carrier polymer that is capable of binding with cyclodextrins. In addition, measurements are required in the case of this process after the manufacture of the surface of the cyclodextrin-derived stent, these measurements determine the precise absorption capacity of the cyclodextrin portion for the pharmacologically active agents. On the actual introduction of active agents in cyclodextrins, differences also arise, as is the case with other absorption systems, between the theoretical and practical absorption capacity as a function of the active agents used. In view of the inaccuracies of the dosage of the active ingredients when medical implants are being coated according to the known processes, there is a requirement for the simple and varied usable coating methods that allows a precise dosage of the active agents when they are being coated foreign bodies, in particular medical implants.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for applying a coating material on the surface of any desired implant, the method allows precise control of the amount of coating material applied. A further object of the invention is to provide a corresponding application method by means of which implants can be coated individually or multiplely, ie with one or more layers of one or different coating materials in a precise and reproducible manner. A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for carrying out the method of application according to the invention. The solution, according to the invention, to the aforementioned objectives is presented after the independent method and the claims of the device. The preferred embodiments are obtained by combining them with the characteristic features of the dependent claims. A solution, according to the invention, to the objective related to the process of the present invention consists of a method for applying a defined amount of a coating material on the surface of an implant to be coated by means of a printing method that It comprises the steps of: loading the voids formed in the surface of the sleeve of a printing roller with a defined amount of the coating material; - arranging the impression roller in the implant to be coated in such a way that the adsorption and / or adhesion forces that are intrinsic to the surface properties of the implant to be coated are sufficient to be able to attract the coating material present in the voids of the surface of the roller sleeve for printing; - applying the coating material present in the recesses of the surface of the printing roller cover by moving the printing roller and the surface of the implant to be coated along the surface of the sleeve. A solution related to the device to the aforementioned objectives, according to the invention, consists of a device for applying a defined amount of a coating material on the surface of an implant to be coated using a printing roller on whose surface the sheath has formed several voids so that they are able to absorb a defined amount of the coating material, the printing roller will always be placed with respect to the implant that will be coated in such a way that the suction and / or adsorption forces that are intrinsic with respect to the surface properties of the implant to be coated are sufficient to be able to attract the coating material present in the recesses of the surface of the printing roller cover, for the purpose of application, by moving along the the surface of the roller sleeve for printing and the surface of the body and the coating material present in the recesses of the surface of the roller sleeve for printing on the surface of the implant to be coated will be coated. Preferably, the movement along the surface of the printing roller cover and the body surface to be coated is carried out in an essentially error-proof manner. According to the invention, it has been found that the printing processes are particularly suitable for the application of coating materials on the surface of an implant to be coated in a defined manner, and, with respect to the precisely measured amount. Preferably, rollers for printing with a surface structure defined for this purpose are used to exhibit gaps in the surface of the printing roller sleeve that allow an accurate determination of the volume of the coating material per surface unit of the printing roller. The term printing roller must be understood, in the case of the present invention, like all printing rolls whose surface of the sleeve contains many gaps of defined geometry and arrangement. The voids in the surface of the printing roller cover can have any desired three-dimensional geometric shapes, such as, for example, small cups, slot structures, pointed pyramids, flat pyramids, grids, semi-spherical grids, hollows with cylindrical shape and the similar. The gaps formed in the surface of the printing roller cover make it possible, as a result of its known dimensions, to clearly and quite accurately determine the volume of a coating material being applied on the printing roller, based on the surface unit of the roller cover surface for printing. The volume of the hole per surface unit of the surface of the roller cover for printing in this way provides an accurate measurement of the maximum dosage of the coating material that can be released in the application of the coating material present in the voids of the surface of the roller sleeve for printing on the surface of the implant to be coated. In this way it is possible to determine with precision, from the volume of recesses of the printing roller per surface unit, the maximum amount of the coating material that is transferred on the surface of the implant will be determined by moving the implant along the length of the implant. surface of the roller sleeve for printing or by moving the roller for printing along the surface of the implant to be coated. By repeated movement along the surface of the printing roller sheath and the surface of the implant to be coated, the dosage of the coating material can be multiplied as desired. Printing rollers suitable for use in accordance with the invention can be selected from gravure rolls, anilox rolls, rotogravure rolls, ceramic rolls, anilox ceramic rolls, ceramic coated anilox rolls, flexographic printing rolls, embossing rollers, calender rollers and other printing rollers whose surfaces of the sheath exhibit hollows for receiving the coating material, particularly preferably the anilox rolls. According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is additionally the possibility of using rollers for printing without gaps, ie with a smooth surface structure on which the coating material is applied by means of suitable processes in a defined thickness of the layer. These processes for loading the rolls for printing with the defined coating thickness of the coating material are known in the state of the art and are familiar to the skilled person. Basically all the features described so far and in the following are applied together with the printing rollers that contain holes, if necessary after the corresponding adaptation, also for the rollers for printing that do not have gaps and with the application methods carried out out with them. The coating thickness on the printing roller that does not have holes can be adjusted by methods known to the person skilled in the art, using for example precision spraying technology or ultrasonic atomization methods so that they are distributed extremely finely and by homogeneous dew. According to the method of application of the invention, the voids formed in the surface of the printing roller cover or the surface of the cover of the printing roller itself are first loaded with a defined amount of the coating material. This can be done in various ways, depending on the state of aggregation of the coating material, for example by partially or completely submerging the surface of the printing roller in liquid or powder coating materials, spray liquid, dissolved coating materials or powder on the surface of the roller for printing and the like. In particularly preferred embodiments, the powder coating materials can also be applied by electrostatic attraction on the surface of the sheath and in the recesses. In order to adjust the volume of the coating material in the recesses of the surface of the roller sleeve for printing as accurately as possible, the coating material in possible excess of preference is removed from the surface of the sleeve after Apply the coating material on the printing roller. In the simplest case, this can be done by using a rotating bar or similar devices to a scraper blade or scraping the recesses again at the level of the roller surface. It is also possible to ensure a reproducible, accurate dosage of the substance that will be applied in the manner of a very fine pattern of the voids and their anilox formation. In preferred embodiments of the process of the invention, the upper surface of the voids is smaller than the surface of the implant to be coated. The ratio of the top surface of the recesses in the impression roller to the surface of the implant to be coated preferably is 1:10, particularly preferably 1: 100, especially preferably 1: 1000, 1: 5000, 1: 10000 or more. In particular, the use of gravure rolls / anilox rolls, in particular anilox ceramic rolls or anilox rolls coated with ceramic and the use of gravure rolls of metal, in particular stainless steel, is preferred. In addition, steel gravure rollers / anilox rollers, if necessary chromed, or stainless steel, are particularly preferred rollers. In preferred embodiments, in particular stainless steel or gravure anilox rolls or stainless steel anilox rolls with a pattern of 120, 240 and up to 300, ie, 120 x 120, 240 x 240 or 300 x 300 holes are used per cm3 of the roll cover surface for printing. The volume of the holes normally adds 1 x 10"6mm3 to 1 x 10 ~ 4mm3, although it can be selected more or less by someone with experience, depending on the desired application, using for example a denser pattern of gaps or deeper holes or larger The void volume of a stainless steel anilox roll suitable for use in accordance with the invention is preferably about 2 x 10"~ 5mm3 with a pattern of 240. In the case of anilox ceramic rolls or anilox rolls coated with ceramic, the preferred pattern densities will be of the type 120, 450 to 700 with hole volumes of 1 x 10 ~ 7mm3 to 1 x 10_4mm3 each, preferably 5.7 x 10_6mm3 each, where someone with experience You can also select larger or smaller void volumes, depending on the desired application, using, for example, denser void patterns or deeper and / or larger voids. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the loading of the voids formed in the surface of the printing roller cover with a coating material is carried out via a rotating pouring roll (source roll), where it is continuously present. at least one cylindrical segment of the pouring roller in a bath of the coating material during rotation, as a result of which the pouring roller is circumferentially wetted with the coating material and the pouring roller which transfers the coating material thus received subsequently onto the roller for printing. Preferably, the pouring roller touches the printing roller during this process in such a way that excess of the coating material is essentially removed from the surface of the printing roller. If required, the surface of the pouring roller, as a substitute or additionally, can also be scraped using a rotary bar or the like. The impression roller loaded with the coating material in a defined amount is disposed vis-à-vis the implant that will be coated in such a way that the adsorption and / or adhesion forces that are intrinsic to the surface properties of the implant to be coated suffice to be able to attract the coating material present in the recesses of the surface of the printing roller cover, that is to remove it from the surface recesses of the printing roller cover and to join it and / or fix it on the implant surface that will be coated or absorbed into the pore system of a porous surface of the implant. According to one embodiment of the invention, the placement of the printing roller loaded vis-à-vis the implant to be coated is carried out in such a way that a direct contact is established between the implant and the printing roller. According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention that is currently preferred, the placement of the printing roller loaded vis-à-vis the implant to be coated is carried out without direct contact. In this case, the printing roller and the implant to be coated approach each other in a sufficiently narrow manner so that the volumes of the coating material present in the recesses of the surface of the printing roller cover can pass from the roll for printing on the implant to be coated, preferably essentially completely. Someone with experience will have the ability to determine the best geometry for a non-contact application process simply by routine testing, as a function of the specific properties of the coating material used in each case and the surface properties of the implant. In the case of liquid coating materials, for example, distances between the printing roller and the implant are from lμm to 10mm, preferably approximately 100μm.

In order to apply the coating material present in the recesses of the surface of the printing roll cover, it is preferred that the movement between the surface of the printing roll cover and the surface of the implant to be coated be effected in a mistake proofing. The process according to the invention can be carried out in such a way that the surface of the implant to be coated is moved in an error-proof manner along the surface of the printing roller cover or in such a way that the The surface of the roller sleeve for printing is moved in an error-proof manner along the surface of the implant to be coated. According to the invention, a preferential error-proofing counter-movement between the surface of the printing roll sheath and the surface of the implant to be coated is also possible, and is particularly preferred in certain embodiments of the method of the invention. . When the movement along the surface of the printing roller cover and the surface of the body to be coated is not effected in an error-proof manner, the transfer conditions of the coating material of the printing roller must be adjusted on the implant in such a way that a reproducible amount of the coating material is transferred by the movement process. For this purpose, the hydrodynamic conditions must be adjusted appropriately in the case of liquid systems. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the implant to be coated has a cylindrical shape in such a way that the preferably error-proof movement of the surface of the impression roller sheath and the surface of the implant to be coated as length between them is carried out in such a way that the printing roller and the implant to be coated rotate in opposite directions around two axes that are essentially parallel to each other. In the case of non-cylindrical geometries of the implant to be coated, the preferably error-proof movement of the surface of the impression roller sheath and the surface of the implant that will be coated along one another can be carried out from such that the axis of the printing roller moves equidistantly along the surface of the implant to be coated. In this way, a semi-examination of the surface of the implant is carried out, which will be covered with the loaded roller. The implant to be coated according to the method of the invention can basically adopt any desired shape, with the proviso that the method is adjusted as far as the device technology is concerned. To this end, someone with experience knows several possible arrangements of the printing roller and the loading system for the holes in the surface of the printing roller cover, which will be selected as required. The term "implant" is used within the present description in such a way that it generally comprises medical, diagnostic and therapeutic implants such as, for example, stents, intraluminal stents, endovascular prostheses, coronary stents, peripheral endovascular prostheses, surgical implants. and / or orthopedic for temporary purposes such as, for example, screws, plates, surgical nails and other means of fixation, permanent surgical or orthopedic implants such as, for example, bone or joint prostheses, for example, artificial hips or knee joints , inserts of the articulation cavity, screws, plates, nails, implant ables orthopedic fixation means, vertebral body substitutes, as well as artificial hearts and parts thereof, valves for artificial heart, housing for pacemakers, implants for percutaneous use, subcutaneous and / or intramuscular, active principles of sustained release and microchips and the like that are intended to be used in the human or animal body and / or are intended to be applied on or inside the human or animal body. According to the invention, the implant to be coated preferably consists of medical, diagnostic or therapeutic implants such as, for example, stents, endovascular prostheses, coronary stents, peripheral endovascular prostheses, orthopedic implants, bone or joint prostheses. , artificial hearts, valves for artificial heart, electrodes for pacemakers and / or intramuscular implants, nails and surgical screws, fixation agents, fasteners, and the like.

However, basically any desired body shape can be coated by means of the method / device of the invention, the method of the invention is characterized in particular since the applied amount of the coating material can be determined and predetermined with great precision. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the implant to be coated is an endovascular stent, in particular and preferably with a generally cylindrical shape, in particular and preferably a carbon-coated stent, for example as described in DE 103 33 098, and manufactured according to the method described therein. The implants that can be reproducibly coated by means of the method of the present invention can consist of almost any desired material, in particular of all the materials from which the implants can be produced. Examples with respect to this are: amorphous and / or partially crystalline carbon, bulk carbon material, porous carbon, graphite, carbon composites, carbon fibers, plastics, synthetic resin fibers, ceramics such as, for example, zeolites , silicates, aluminum oxides, alu inosilicates, silicon carbide, silicon nitride; metal carbides, metal oxides, metal nitrides, metal carbonitrides, metal oxycarbides, metal oxynitrides and metal oxycarbonitrides of transition metals such as, for example, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, rhenium , iron, cobalt, nickel; metals and metal alloys, in particular of noble metals such as, for example, gold, silver, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum; metals and metal alloys of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, rhenium, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper; steel, in particular stainless steel, alloys for shape retention such as, for example, nitinol, nickel-titanium alloy, glass, stone, glass fibers, minerals, natural or synthetic bone substance, bone imitations based on metal carbonates alkaline earth metals such as, for example, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, strontium carbonate and any desired compositions of the materials mentioned above.

Depending on the coating material to be applied, the implant to be coated may consist of any desired substances with the proviso that the material is capable of absorbing and / or bonding to the coating material or fixing it on the surface. Preferred materials from the field of medical, diagnostic or therapeutic implants that can be coated with the method of the invention are, for example, carbon, carbon fibers, bulk carbon material, carbon composite, fiber carbon, plastics, polymeric material, synthetic resin fibers, ceramics, glass or glass fibers, metals such as, for example, stainless steel, titanium, tantalum, platinum; alloys such as, for example, nitinol, nickel-titanium alloy; bone, stone, mineral or combinations of these materials of which consists the implant that will be coated. If necessary, the implants to be coated consisting of the aforementioned materials can also be coated with one or more layers of one or more of the aforementioned materials.

The coating material for use in the method of the invention can be a solution, suspension or one of several active agents or precursors of active agents of a suitable carrier material, an undiluted liquid active agent or also one or more active agents and precursors of active agents in powder form. The term "active agent" is to be understood, according to the invention, as pharmacologically effective substances, such as, for example, medicines, medicines, pharmaceuticals, but also micro-organisms, living organic cellular material, and enzymes as well as also inorganic or organic biocompatible substances. The term "precursors of the active agent" refers to substances or mixtures of substances, which after application on an implant to be coated, are converted by thermal, mechanical or chemical and / or biological processes into active agents of the type mentioned above. The active agents or precursors of active agents of an organic type which can be used in the coating materials of the method of the invention can be biodegradable and / or resorbable polymers such as for example, collagen, albumin, gelatin, hyaluronic acid, starch, celluloses such as, for example, methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose phthalate, casein, dextrans, polysaccharides, fibrinogen, poly (D, L-lactides), poly (D, L-lactide co-glycolides), poly (glycolides) ), poly (hydroxybutylates), poly (alkyl carbonates), poly (orthoesters), polyesters, poly (hydroxyvaleric acid), polydioxanones, poly (ethyl enterephthalates), poly (malic acid), poly (tartronic acid), polyanhydrides, polyphosphazenes, poly (amino acids), and their non-biodegradable and / or resorbable copolymers or polymers. Anionic, cationic or amphoteric coatings such as, for example, alginate, carrageenan, carboxymethylcellulose are particularly preferred.; chitosan, poly-L-lysine; and / or phosphoryl choline. The active agents or precursors of active agents that can be used as the coating material according to the present invention can also be markers, contrast agents or the like that can be used to locate coated implants in the body, for example therapeutic amounts. or for diagnosis of radioactive sources of radiation and the like.

In certain embodiments, in particular, in the case of subcutaneous / intramuscular deposits of the active agent or stents, the loading of the active agent may also be temporary, i.e., the active agent is released after the placement of the implant, or the agent active is immobilized permanently inside or on the implant. In this way, medical implants containing active agents with static, dynamic or combined loads of static and dynamic active agents can be produced. In this way, multifunctional coatings can be obtained on the coated implants according to the invention. In the case of static loading with active agents, the active agents are immobilized practically permanently on the implant. The active agents suitable for use for this purpose are biocompatible inorganic substances, for example hydroxyl apatite (HAP), fluoroapatite, tricalcium phosphate (TCP), zinc; and / or organic substances such as for example, peptides, proteins, carbohydrates such as for example, onosaccharides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides, lipids, phospholipids, spheroids, lipoproteins, glycoproteins, glycolipids, proteoglycans, DNA, RNA, labeled peptides or antibodies or fragments of antibodies, bio-resorbable polymers, for example polylactonic acid, chitosan and pharmacologically effective substances or mixtures of substances and combinations thereof. In the case of dynamic loading with active agents, the applied active agents must be released after inserting the implant into the body. In this way, it is possible to use the coated implants for therapeutic purposes, wherein the active agents applied on the implant are released locally, successively at the implant use site. Suitable active agents for use in the dynamic loading of active agents for the release of active agents are, for example, hydroxyl apatite (HAP), fluoroapatite, tricalcium phosphate (TCP), zinc; and / or organic substances such as for example, peptides, proteins, carbohydrates such as, for example, monosaccharides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides, lipids, phospholipids, spheroids, lipoproteins, glycoproteins, glycolipids, proteoglycans, DNA, RNA, labeled peptides or antibodies or fragments of antibodies, bio-resorbable polymers, for example polylactonic acid, chitosan and the like and pharmacologically effective substances or mixtures of substances. Suitable pharmacologically effective substances or mixtures of substances for static and / or dynamic loading of coated implants according to the invention comprise active agents or combinations of active agents which are selected from heparin, analogs of synthetic heparin (for example fondaparinux), hirudin, antithrombin III, drotrecogin alfa; fibrinolytics such as, for example, alteplase, plasmin, lysokinases, factor Xlla, prourokinase, urokinase, anistreplase, streptokinase; thrombocyte aggregation inhibitors such as, for example, acetylsalicylic acid, ticlopidines, clopidogrel, abciximab, dextrans; eryroidal corticosteroids such as, for example, alclometasone, amcinonide, bet ametasone augmented, beclometasone, bet ametasone, budesonide, cortisone, clobetasol, clocortolone, desonido, deoximetasone, dexamet asonas, flucinolone, fluocinonide, flurandrenolide, flunisolide, fluticasone, halcinonide, halobetasol, hydrocortisones, ethyl prednisolones, mometasone, prednicarbates, prednisones, prednisolones, triamcinolones; the so-called non-spheroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as, for example, diclofenac, diflunisal, etodolac, fenoprofen, flurbiprofen, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, ketorolac, meclofenamate, mefenamic acid, meloxicam, nabumethonas, naproxen, oxaprozin, piroxicam, salsalates, sulindac, tolmetin, celecoxib, rofecoxib; cytostatics such as, for example, alkaloids and podophyllum toxins such as, for example, vinblastine, vincristine; alkylating agents such as, for example, nitroso ureas, dichlorodiethyl nitrogen sulfide analogue; cytotoxic antibiotics such as, for example, daunorubicin, doxorubicin and other anthracyclines and allied substances, bleomycin, mitomycin; antimetabolites such as, for example, folic acid, purine analogues or pyrimidine analogues; paclitaxel, docetaxel, sirolimus; platinum compounds such as, for example, carboplatin, cisplatin or oxaliplatin; amsacrine, irinotecan, imatinib, topotecan, interferon-alpha 2a, interferon-alpha 2b, hydroxycarbamide, iltefosine, pentost atina, porfimer, aldesleucine, bexarotene, tretinoin; antiandrogens and antiestrogens; antiarrhythmics, in particular antiarrhythmics of class I, such as, for example, antiarrhythmics of the quinidine type, for example, quinidine, disopyramide, ajmaline, prajmal bitartrate, detachment bitartrate; antiarrhythmics of the lidocaine type, for example lidocaine, mexiletine, phenytoin, tocainide; class I C antiarrhythmics, for example, propafenone, flecainide (acetate); Class II antiarrhythmics, beta-receptor blockers such as, for example, metoprolol, esmolol, propranolol, metoprolol, atenolol, oxprenolol; Class III antiarrhythmics such as, for example, amiodaron, sotalol; class IV antiarrhythmics such as, for example, diltiazem, verapamil, gallopamil; other antiarrhythmics such as, for example, adenosine, orciprenaline, ipratropium bromide; agents for the stimulation of angiogenesis in the myocardium such as, for example, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), non-viral DNA, viral DNA, endothelial growth factors; FGF-1, FGF-2, VEGF, TGF; antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, anticalines; hemositoblasts, endothelial progenitor cells (EPC); glycosides digitalis such as, for example, acetyl digoxin / met il digoxin, digitoxin, digoxin; cardiac glycosides such as, for example, ouabain, proscilaridin; antihypertensives such as, for example, centrally acting anti-adrenergic substances, for example, methyl dopa, imidazoline receptor agonists; calcium channel blockers of the dihydropyridine type, such as, for example, nifedipine, nitrendipine; ACE blockers: quinaprilat, cilazapril, moexipril, trandolapril, espirapril, imidapril, tranodolapril; angiotensin-II antagonists; candesartan cilexetil, valsartan, telmisartan, olmesartan medoxomil, eprosartan; peripherally effective alpha-receptor blockers such as, for example, prazosin, urapidil, doxazosin, bunazosin, terazosin, indoramin; vasodilators such as, for example, dihydralazine, diisopropyl amine dichloroacetate, minoxidil, sodium nitroprusside; other antihypertensives such as, for example, indapa id, co-dergocrinmesilato, dihydroergot oxeta methanesulfonate, cyclintanin, bosentan, fludrocortisone; phosphodiesterase inhibitors such as, for example, milrinone, enoximon and anti-hypotonic such as, for example, in particular, adrenergic and dopaminergic substances such as, for example, dobutamine, epinephrine, ethylephrine, norphenephrine, norrepinephrine, oxylofrine, dopamine, midodrine, foledrine, amexinium methyl; and partial adrenoreceptor agonists such as, for example, dihydroergotamine; fibronectin, polylysines, ethylene vinyl acetates, inflammatory cytokines such as, for example, TGFβ, PDGF, VEGF, bFGF, TNFα, NGF, GM-CSF, IGF-α, IL-1, IL-8, IL-6, growth hormones; as well as, adhesive substances such as, for example, cyanoacrylates, beryllium, silica; and growth factors such as, for example, erythropoietin, hormones such as, for example, corticotrophins, gonadotropins, atropine, thyrotropin, desmopressin, terlipressin, oxytocin, cetrorelix, corticorelin, leuprorelin, triptorelin, gonadorelin, ganirelix, buserelin, nafarelin, goserelin. and regulatory peptides such as, for example, somatostatin, octreotide; bone and cartilage stimulating peptides, so-called "bone morphogenic proteins" (BMPs), in particular recombinant BMPs such as, for example, recombinant human BMP-2 (rhBMP-2), bisphosphonate (for example, risedronates, pamidronates, ibandronates, zoledronic acid, clodronic acid, etidronic acid, alendronic acid, tiludronic acid), fluorides such as, for example, disodium fluorophosphate, sodium fluoride; calcitonin, dihydrotaquistirene; growth factors and cytokines such as, for example, epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), transforming growth factors-b (TGFs-b) transforming growth factor-a (TGFs-a), erythropoietin (Epo), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), necrosis factor-b tumor (TNF b), interferon-g (INF-g), colony stimulating factors (CSFs); monocyte chemotactic protein, factor 1 stimulator of fibroblasts, histamine, fibrin or fibrinogen, endot elina-1, angiotensin II, collagens, bromocriptine, methyl sergide, methotrexate, carbon tetrachloride, thioacetamide and ethanol; also silver (ions), titanium dioxide, antibiotics and anti-infectives such as, for example, in particular, β-lactam antibiotics, for example penicillins sensitive to β-lactamase, such as, for example, benzyl penicillins (penicillin G), phenoxymethyl penicillin (penicillin V); penicillins resistant to ß-lactamase such as, for example, aminopenicillins such as, for example, ampicillin, bacampicillin; acyl aminopenicillins such as, for example, mezlocillin, piperacillin; carboxypenicillins, cephalosporins such as, for example, cefazolin, cefuroxime, cefoxitin, cefotiam, cefaclor, cefadroxil, cephalexin, loracarbef, cefixim, cefuroximaxetil, ceftibutene, cefpodoximproxetil, cefpodoximproxetil; aztreonam, ertrapenem, meropenem; β-lactamase inhibitors such as for example, sulbactam, sult tosylate amycillin; tetracyclines such as, for example, doxycycline, minocycline, tetracycline, chlorotetracycline, oxytetracycline; aminoglycosides such as, for example, gentamicin, neomycin, streptomycin, tobra icine, amikacin, netilmicin, paromomycin, framycetin, spectinomycin; macrolide antibiotics such as, for example, azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, roxithromycin, spiramycin, josamycin, lincosamides such as, for example, clindamycin, lincomycin, gyrase inhibitors, such as, for example, fluoroquinolones such as, for example, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, moxifloxacin , norfloxacin, gatifloxacin, enoxacin, fleroxacin, levofloxacin; quinolones such as, for example, pipemidic acid; sulfonamides, trimethoprim, sulfadiazine, sulfalene; glycopeptide antiobiotics such as, for example, vancomycin, teicoplanin; polypeptide antibiotics such as, for example, polymyxins such as, for example, colistin, polymyxin-B, nit roimidazole derivatives such as, for example, metronidazole, tinidazole; aminoquinolones such as, for example, chloroquine, mefloquine, hydroxychloroquine; biguanides such as, for example, proguanil; quinine and diamino pyrimidine alkaloids such as, for example, pyrimet amine; amphenicols such as, for example, chloramphenicol; rifabutin, dapsone, fusidinic acid, fosfomycin, nifuratel, telithromycin, fusafungin, fosfomycin, pentamidine diisetionate, rifampicin, taurolidine, atovaquone, lysolid; virustatics such as, for example, acyclovir, ganciclovir, famciclovir, foscarnet, inosine (acetamidobenzoate of dimepranol-4), valganciclovir, valaciclovir, cidofovir, brivudine; active antiretroviral agents (inhibitors and reverse transcript derivatives of nucleoside analogues) such as, for example, lamivudine, zalcitabine, didanosine, zidovudine, tenofovir, stavudine, abacavir; reverse transcriptase inhibitors with nucleoside analogs; amprenavir, indinavir, saquinavir, lopinavir, ritonavir, nelfinavir; amantadine, ribavirin, zanamivir, oseltamivir and lamivudine, as well as, any desired combinations and mixtures thereof. In particularly preferred embodiments of the process according to the invention, the pharmacologically effective substances incorporated into microcapsules, liposomes, nanocapsules, nanoparticles, micelles, synthetic phospholipids, gaseous dispersions, emulsions, microemulsions or nanospheres can be used as the coating material. Suitable solvents can be used as a carrier medium for solutions, suspensions - or emulsions for coating materials. The examples in this respect are methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, butoxydiglycol, butoxy ethanol, butoxy isopropanol, butoxy propanol, n-butyl alcohol, t-butyl alcohol, butylene glycal, butyl octanol, diethylene glycol, dimethoxydiglycol, dimethyl ether, dipropylene glycol, ethoxydiglycol, ethoxyethanol, ethyl hexane diol, glycol, hexane diol, 1,2,6-hexane triol, hexyl alcohol, hexylene glycol, isobutoxy propanol, isopentyl diol, 3-methoxy butanol, methoxy diglycol, methoxy ethanol, methoxy isopropanol, methoxy methyl butanol, methoxy PEG- 10, methylal, methyl hexyl ether, methyl propane diol, neopentyl glycol, PEG-4, PET-6, PET-7, PEG-8, PEG-9, PEG-6-methyl ether, pentylene glycol, PPG-7, PPG -2-but et-3, PPG-2 butyl ether, PPG-3 butyl ether, PPG 2 methyl ether, PPG-3 methyl ether, propyl ether PPG-2, propan diol, propylene glycol, propylene glycol butyl ether, propyl ether propylene glycol, tetrahydrofuran, trimethyl hexanol, phenol, benzene, toluene, xylene; and water, if necessary in the mixture with dispersing agents and mixtures thereof. In accordance with the method of the invention, the surface of the implant to be coated can be partially coated, essentially completely and also multiply. A multiple coating is effected by moving multipleways along the surface of the print roller sleeve and the surface to be coated in an error-proof manner, where steps of drying steps can be applied, if necessary, after each coating step. It is particularly preferred to coat the implant which will be coated with one or more pharmacologically effective substances and subsequently with one or more coatings of one or more, if necessary, different materials that modify the release of the pharmacologically effective substance or substances. Release modifying materials suitable for this purpose are, for example, cellulose and cellulose derivatives such as, for example, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, poly (meth) acrylates, carbomers, polyvinyl pyrrolidone and the like. Particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention are coated stents (intraluminal stents) such as, for example, endovascular prostheses, coronary stents, intravascular stents, peripheral endovascular prostheses and the like. These may be biocompatible in a simple manner by the method of the invention, as a result of which the restenoses that occur frequently in the case of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty using conventional endovascular prostheses, for example, can be avoided. In particularly preferred embodiments, the endovascular prostheses, in particular the endovascular prostheses provided with a surface layer containing carbon, can be loaded with pharmacologically effective substances or mixtures of substances. For example, the surfaces of the stent may be equipped with the following active ingredients for the local suppression of cell adhesion, thrombocyte aggregation, complementary activation and / or inflammatory reactions of tissues or cell proliferation: Heparin, synthetic heparin analogues ( for example fondaparinux), hirudin, antithrombin III, drotrecogin alfa; fibrinolytics (alteplase, plas ina, lysocinases, factor Xlla, prourokinase, urokinase, anistreplase, streptokinase) thrombocyte aggregation inhibitors (acetyl-silicasic acid, ticlopidines, clopidogrel, abciximab, dextrans), corticosteroids (alclometasone, amcinonides, betamethasone augmentation, beclomethasone , betamethasones, budesónidos, cortisone, clobetasol, clocortolonas, desónidos, desoximetasonas, asonas Dexamet, flucinolonas, fluocinonidas, flurandrenólidos, flunisólides, fluticasonas, halcinonidas, halobetasol, hydrocortisones, methyl prednisolonas, mometasonas, prednicarbatos, prednisonas, prednisolonas, triamcinolonas); the so-called non-spheroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (diclofenac, diflunisal, etodolac, fenoprofen, flurbiprofen, ibuprofen, indomet acin, ketoprofen, ketorolac, meclofenamate, mefenamic acid, meloxicam, nabumethones, naproxen, oxaprozin, piroxicam, salsalates, sulindac, tolmetin, celecoxib, rofecoxib ) cytostatics (podophyllum alkaloids and toxins such as, for example, vinblastine, vincristine; alkylating agents such as, for example, nitroso ureas, dichlorodiethyl nitrogen sulfide analogs; cytotoxic antibiotics such as, for example, daunorubicin, doxorubicin and other ant raccyclins and allied substances, bleomycin, mitoin, antimetabolites such as, for example, folic acid, purine analogs or pyrimidine analogs, paclitaxel, docetaxel, sirolimus, platinum compounds such as, for example, carboplatin, cisplatin or oxaliplatin; amsacrine, irinotecan, imatinib, topotecan, interferon-alpha 2a, interferon-alpha 2b, hydroxycarbamide, miltefosine, pentostatin, porfimer, aldesleucine, bexarotene, tretinoin; antiandrogens and antiestrogens).

For systemic, cardiological effects, the endovascular prostheses according to the invention can be loaded with: Antiarrhythmics, in particular antiarrhythmics of class I (quinidine antiarrhythmics: quinidine, di sopyramide, ajmaline, prajmal bitartrate, detachment bitartrate; antiarrhythmics; of the lidocaine type: lidocaine, mexiletine, phenytoin, tocainide, class IC antiarrhythmics: propafenone, flecainid (acetate), class II antiarrhythmics, beta-receptor blockers (metoprolol, esmolol, propranolol, metoprolol, atenolol, oxprenolol), class III antiarrhythmics (amiodarone, sotalol), class IV antiarrhythmics (diltiazem, verapamil, gallopamil, other antiarrhythmics such as, for example, adenosine, orciprenaline, ipratropium bromide, agents for the stimulation of angiogenesis in the myocardium: vascular endothelial growth (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), non-viral DNA, viral DNA, fact ores of endothelial growth; FGF-1, FGF-2, VEGF, TGF; antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, anticalines; hemositoblasts, endothelial progenitor cells (EPC). The additional cardiac ones are: glycosides digitalis (acetyl digoxin / methyl digoxin, digitoxin, digoxin), additional cardiac glycosides (ouabain, proscilaridin). Also antihypertonic (centrally acting anti-adrenergic substances: methyl dopa, imidazoline receptor agonists, calcium channel blockers of the dihydropyridine type such as, for example, nifedipine, nitrendipine; ACE blockers: quinaprilat, cilazapril, moexipril, trandolaprí 1, espirapril, imidapril , tranodolapril; angiotensin-II antagonists: candesartan cilexetil, valsartan, telmisartan, olmesartan medoxomil, eprosartan, peripherally effective alpha-receptor blockers: prazosin, urapidil, doxazosin, bunazosin, terazosin, indoramin, vasodilators: dihydralazine, dichloroacetate or diisopropyl amine , minoxidil, sodium nitroprusside), other antihypertensives such as, for example, indapamid, co-dergocrinmesilate, dihydroergotoxin methane sulfonate, cyclintanin, bosentan. Inhibitors of additional phosphodiesterase (milrinon, enoximon) and anti- hypothonic ion, in this case in particular adrenergic and dopaminergic substances (dobutamine, epinephrine, etilefrine, norphenephrine, norrepinephrine, oxylofrine, dopamine, midodrine, foledrine, amexinium methyl), partial adrenoreceptor agonists ( dihydroergotamine) and finally other anti-hypotonic drugs such as, for example, fludrocortisone. To increase tissue adhesion, particularly in the case of peripheral stent grafts, the components of the extracellular matrix, fibronectin, polylysines, ethylene vinyl acetate, inflammatory cytokines such as for example: TGFβ, PDGF, VEGF, bFGF, TNFα, NGF , GM-CSF, IGF-a, IL-1, IL-8, IL-6, growth hormones; as well as, adhesive substances can be used such as for example: cyanoacrylates, beryllium or silica. The substances suitable for this purpose that have a systemic and / or local effect, are growth factors, erythropoietin. Hormones may also be provided in the fillers of the stent grafts such as, for example, corticotropins, gonadotropins, atropine, thyrotropin, desmopressin, erythresin, oxytocin, cetrorelix, corticorelin, leuprorelin, triptorelin, gonadorelin, ganirelix, buserelin, nafarelin, goserelin. , as well as, regulatory peptides such as, for example, somatostat ina and / or octreotide. In the case of surgical and orthopedic implants, implants with macroporous surface layers are often used. Their pore sizes vary in the region of 0.1 to lOOOμm, preferably 1 to 400μm, in order to help a better integration of the implants by growth in the surrounding cells or bone tissue. These implants are particularly suitable for the application and impregnation with a wide variety of different active agents and precursors of active agents. For orthopedic and non-orthopedic implants and heart valvesPacemaker electrodes or artificial cardiac parts, essentially the same active agents can also be used for the local suppression of cell adhesion, aggregation of thrombocytes, complementary activation and / or inflammatory reaction of tissues or cell proliferation as in the applications of endovascular prostheses described above. In addition, to stimulate tissue growth, in particular in the case of orthopedic implants, the following active agents can be used for better integration of the implant: bone and cartilage stimulating peptides, bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs), in particular BMPs particular recombinants (human BMP-2 reco binant e) (rhBMP-2), bisphosphonates, for example, risedronates, pamidronates, ibandronates, zoledronic acid, clodronic acid, etidronic acid, alendronic acid, tiludronic acid) fluorides (disodium fluorophosphate, fluoride of sodium); calcitonin, aquistirene dihydrot. The totality of growth factors and cytokines (epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), transforming growth factors-b (TGFs-b), factor- a growth transformant (TGFs-a), erythropoietin (Epo), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II), interleukin-I (IL-1) ), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), tumor necrosis factor-b (TNF b) ), interferon-g (INF-g), colony stimulating factors (CSFs) .The adhesion and integration promoting substances, in addition to the aforementioned inflammatory cytokines, are the monocyte chemotactic protein, factor 1 stimulator of fibroblasts, histamine, fibrin fibrinogen, endothelin-1, angiotensin II, collagens, bromocript ina, methyl sergide, methotrexate, carbon tetrachloride, thioa Cetamide, ethanol. In addition, the implants can also be provided with antibacterial anti-infective coatings by means of the printing method of the invention, the following substances or mixtures of substances which will be suitable for use as a coating material: silver (ions), titanium dioxide, antibiotics and anti-infectives. In particular ß-lactam antibiotics (ß-lactamase-sensitive penicillins, such as, for example, benzyl penicillins (penicillin G), phenoxymethyl penicillin (penicillin V); β-lactamase-resistant penicillins such as, for example, aminopenicillins such as for example , amoxicillin, ampicillin, bacampicillin, acyl aminopenicillins such as, for example, mezlocillin, piperacillin, carboxypenicillins, cephalosporins (cefazolin, cefuroxime, cefoxitin, cefotiam, cefaclor, cefadroxil, cephalexin, loracarbef, cefixim, cefuroximexetil, ceftibuten, cefpodoximproxetil, cefpodoximproxetil, or others such as, for example, aztreonam, ertrapenem, meropenem, additional antibiotics are β-lactamase inhibitors (sulbactam, sult tosylate amycillin), tetracyclines (doxycycline, minocycline, t-tetracycline, chlorotetracycline, oxittracycline, aminoglycosides (gentamicin, neomycin, streptomycin, tobra icine, amikacin, netilmicin, omicin, framycetin, spectinomycin), macrolide antibiotics (azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, roxithromycin, spiramycin, josamycin), lincosamides (clinda icine, lincomycin), gyrase inhibitors (fluoroquinolones such as, for example, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, moxifloxacin, norfloxacin, gatifloxacin, enoxacin, fleroxacin, levofloxacin, other quinolones such as, for example, pipemidic acid), sulfonamides and trimethoprim (sulfadia zina, sulfalene, trimethoprim), glycopeptide antiobiotics (vancomycin) , teicoplanin), polypeptide antibiotics (polymyxins such as, for example, colistin, polymyxin-B), nitroimidazole derivatives (metronidazole, tinidazole), aminoquinolones (chloroquine, mefloquine, hydroxychloroquine), biguanides (proguanil), quinine alkaloids and diamino pyrimidines (pyrimet amine), amphenicols (chloramphenicol), and other antibiotics (rifabutin, dapsone, fusidinic acid, fosfomycin, nifuratel, telithromycin, fusafungin, fosfomycin, pentamidine diisetionate, rifampicin, taurolidine, atovaquone, linesolid). The following that will be necessary to mention among the virustaticos are: aciclovir., Ganciclovir, famciclovir, foscarnet, inosina (acetamidobenzoate of dimepranol-4), valganciclovir, vala.ciclovir, cidofovir, brivudine. These also include antiretroviral active ingredients (inhibitors and reverse transcriptase derivatives of nucleoside analogues): lamivudine, zalcitabine, didanosine, zidovudine, tenofovir, stavudine, abacavir; reverse transcriptase inhibitors with nucleoside analogs; amprenavir, indinavir, saquinavir, lopinavir, ritonavir, nelfinavir), and other virustatics such as, for example, amantadine, ribavirin, zanamivir, oseltamivir and lamivudine. In particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention, the implants can be suitably modified with respect to their chemical or physical properties by means of additional agents, for example, in order to modify the hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity, electrical conductivity, adhesion or other surface properties. . Suitable substances for use as coating material for this purpose are biodegradable or non-degradable polymers such as for example with respect to biodegradable: collagen, albumin, gelatin, hyaluronic acid, starch, celluloses (methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, phthalate of carboxymethylcellulose, also casein, dextrans, polysaccharides, fibrinogen, poly (D, L-lactides), poly (D, L-lactide coglucolides), poly (glycolides), poly (hydroxybutylates), poly (alkyl carbonates), poly (orthoesters) ), polyesters, poly (hydroxyvaleric acid), polydioxanones, poly (ethyl enterephthalates), poly (malic acid), poly (tartronic acid), polyanhydrides, polyphosphazenes, poly (amino acids), and all their copolymers. poly (ethylene vinyl acetates), silicones, acrylic polymers such as, for example, polyacrylic acid, polymethyl acrylic acid, polyacrylic locinoacrylates or polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polyamides, polyurethanes, poly (urethane esters), poly (ether urethanes), poly (ester ureas), polyethers such as, for example, polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, pluronic, polyethylene glycol; vinyl polymers such as, for example, polyvinyl pyrrolidones, polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl acetate phthalate. In general, it is applicable that polymers with anionic (eg, alginate, carrageenan, carboxymethylcellulose) or cationic (eg, chitosan, poly-L-lysines, etc.) or both properties (phosphoryl choline) properties can be advantageously used. To modify the release properties of the coated implants containing the active agent according to the invention, specific pH-dependent or temperature-dependent release properties can be produced by applying additional polymers, for example. PH-sensitive polymers are, for example, poly (acrylic acid) and derivatives, for example: homopolymers, such as for example, poly (aminocarboxylic acid), poly (acrylic acid), poly (methyl acrylic acid) and their copolymers. This also applies to polysaccharides such as, for example, cellulose acetate phthalate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate, hydroxylpropyl methylcellulose succinate, cellulose acetate trimellitate and chitosan. Heat sensitive polymers are for example poly (cosodium acrylate of N-isopropyl acrylamide co-nN alkyl acrylamide), poly (N-methyl Nn-propyl acrylamide), poly (N-methyl N-isopropyl acrylamide), poly (N-propyl) methacrylamide), poly (N-isopropyl acrylamide), poly (N, n-diethyl acrylamide), poly (N-isopropyl methacrylamide), poly (N-cyclopropyl acrylamide), poly (N-ethyl acrylamide), poly (N-ethyl) methyl acrylamide), poly (N-methyl-N-ethyl acrylamide), poly (N-cyclopropyl acrylamide). Additional polymers with thermogel characteristics are hydroxypropyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, ethyl hydroxy ethyl cellulose and pluronics such as, for example, F-127, L-122, L-92, L-81, L-61. In the case of additional coatings of the loaded implants according to the invention, therefore, a distinction can be made between physical barriers such as, for example, inert biodegradable substances (poly-1-lysine, fibronectin, chitosan, heparin, etc.). ) and biologically active barriers. The latter can be spherically hindered molecules that are physiologically bioactive and allow the release of the active ingredients and / or their carriers. For example, the enzymes that cause the release, the biologically active substances or the non-active binding reagents and lead to the exposure of the active ingredients. Implants coated according to the invention can also be loaded, in particular applications with living cells or microorganisms. These can be established on suitable porous surfaces of the implants, then it will be possible to provide the implant in this colonized form with a suitable membrane or membrane-type coating that is permeable to nutrients and the active ingredients produced by the cells or microorganisms, but not the cells themselves. In this way, it is possible, using the technology according to the invention, to produce, for example, by printing with suspensions of insulin-producing cells, which, after implantation in the body, produce and release insulin as a function of glucose level of the surrounding. In the following, described as an example, a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention and the device of the invention for applying the active agents on the surface of the stent. These details with respect to the explanation of an exemplary embodiment are merely intended to further illustrate the principles of the invention and do not represent a restriction of the general inventive teaching to a certain modality. Figure 1 shows two views A and B of one embodiment of a device of the invention for applying a defined amount of a coating material on the surface of an implant to be coated by means of a printing roller. As shown in 1, an implant, in this case a cylindrical stent, is placed on a drive shaft that is urged in an error-proof manner against the printing roller 2. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the roll for printing 2 is an anilox roll / precision engraving with a drive 7 which allows an error-proof movement, with respect to the stent axis of the stent 1 in the form of a counter-current movement to the anilox roll / precision engraving 2. In the preferred embodiment of the device according to figure 1, the transfer of the coating material from the anilox roll / precision engraving 2 to the stent 1 is carried out in a non-contact manner. As can be seen in the side view A of Figure 1, the anilox roll / precision engraving 2, is in direct contact with a pouring roll 4, which is at least partially submerged in the storage container 10 which is filled with coating material or solution of coating material. The movement of the pouring roller 4 is carried out counter-current to the anilox roll / precision engraving 2. The level of filling of the coating material in the storage container 10 can, as indicated in side view A of the Figure 1, will be equipped with sensors for filling level 5 and 6 for the determination of the upper and lower filling level in the storage container. The sensors for filling level 5 and 6 can be capacitive or conductivity sensors, for example, and in automatic operation, they allow to regulate the recovery of the storage container 10 with the coating material, the level of the coating material in the Storage container will remain between fill levels indicated by fill level sensors 5 and 6 in the manner of an appropriate automatic control. The coating material extracted from the pouring roll 4 is transferred to the anilox roll / precision engraving 2 by contact, the gaps in the anilox / engraving roll being filled with the coating material. The excess coating material on the anilox roller / precision engraving 2 is scraped with a scraping device 3 such as, for example, a rotary bar, in order to obtain a defined amount of coating material pre-indicated by the volume of the anilox roll / precision engraving holes 2. The anilox roll / precision engraving 2 countercurrent rotates in an error-proof manner towards the drive axis of the stent 1 such that, defined by the number of turns, a certain amount of the coating material is transferred from the anilox roll / precision engraving 2 to the stent 1 with each full turn. In the error-proof process, this is carried out by transferring the coating material from the anilox roll / precision engraving 2 onto the stent 1 as a result of the absorption and / or adhesion forces which are intrinsic to the surface properties of the implant to be coated that are sufficient, due to a suitable arrangement of the printing roller 2 vis-à-vis the stent 1 that will be coated to be able to attract the coating material present in the holes of the surface of the roller cover for printing 2. As can be seen in the front view B, the stent 1 is maintained on an axis in the blocks that carry the axis 8 and the axis of the stent 1 or the anilox roller / engraving 2 moves counter to each other in an error-proof manner via a corresponding precision drive 7. In the embodiment of Figure 1 described, the blocks carrying the shaft 8 are adapted in a housing in which the storage container for the active ingredient 10 is also provided as an integral structural component, resulting in a compact construction. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, a suitable drying device 9, such as for example, an air nozzle, for example, can be provided in the spatial vicinity of the stent 1 in order to subject the stent to a flow of hot inert gas in order to evaporate the solvent or dry the coating material. As an alternative, the drying device 9 can also be a thermal radiation device such as for example, an infrared lamp or the like.

Claims (22)

1. CLAIMS 1. A method for applying a defined amount of a coating material on the surface of a medical implant to be coated by means of a printing method comprising the steps of: loading the gaps formed in the surface of the sleeve of a roll for printing with a defined amount of the coating material; Place the impression roller on the implant that will be coated in such a way that the adsorption and / or adhesion forces that are intrinsic to the surface properties of the implant that will be covered are sufficient to attract the coating material present in the holes of the surface of the roller sleeve for printing; - applying the coating material present in the recesses of the surface of the printing roller cover by moving along the surface of the printing roller cover and the surface of the implant to be coated.
2. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the gaps formed in the surface of the printing roller cover are loaded with a defined amount of the coating material when filling the gaps with the coating material, and subsequently removing the possible excess material of covering the surface of the cover.
3. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the filling of the recesses formed in the surface of the printing roller cover is carried out with the coating material via a rotating pouring roller, at least one cylindrical segment of the pouring roller. it will be continuously present in the bath with the coating material during rotation, as a result of which the pouring roll is moistened circumferentially with the coating material and the pouring roller which transfers the coating material thus extracted onto the printing roller.
4. 4. The method according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the placement of the printing roller vis-à-vis in the coated implant allows direct contact.
5. 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the placement of the printing roller vis-a-vis in the coated implant is carried out without contact.
6. 6. The method according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the movement along the surface of the sleeve of the printing roller and the surface of the implant to be coated is carried out in an essentially error-proof manner.
7. 7. The method according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the movement along the surface of the printing roller and the surface of the coated implant is carried out by the printing roller and the implant to be coated is turned in the direction opposite about two essentially parallel axes.
8. 8. The method according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the error-free movement along the surface of the printing roller sheath and the surface of the implant to be coated is carried out when the roller shaft is moved. for printing equidistantly to the surface of the implant that will be coated.
9. 8. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the implant to be coated is selected from medical or therapeutic implants such as, for example, stents, endovascular prostheses, coronary stents, peripheral endovascular prostheses, orthopedic implants, bone prostheses for joints, artificial hearts, artificial heart valves, electrodes for pacemakers, subcutaneous and / or intramuscular implants, and the like.
10. 10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the implant to be coated is an endovascular stent, in particular a stent coated with carbon.
11. 11. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printing roller is selected from gravure rolls, anilox rolls, rotogravure rolls, ceramic rolls, anilox ceramic rolls, ceramic coated anilox rolls, flexographic printing rolls, rolls for embossing, calendering rolls and other printing rollers whose surfaces of the sleeve exhibit gaps to receive the coating material.
12. 12. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coating material a solution, suspension or emulsion of one or more active agents or precursors of active agents in a suitable carrier medium.
13. 13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the active agents or the precursors of active agents are selected from pharmacologically effective substances, microorganisms, living organic cellular material, as well as inorganic or organic substances.
14. 14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the pharmacologically effective substances are incorporated into microcapsules, liposomes, nanocapsules, nanoparticles, micelles, synthetic phospholipids, gas dispersions, emulsions, micro-emulsions or nanospheres.
15. 15. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surface of the implant to be coated is partially coated, essentially completely and / or multiply.
16. 16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the implant is coated with a layer of one or more pharmacologically effective substances and subsequently with one or several layers of one or more, if necessary, different materials that modify the release of the substance or pharmacologically effective substances.
17. 17. A device for applying a defined amount of a coating material on the surface of an implant to be coated using a printing roller on whose surface of the sheath a plurality of recesses have been formed in order to be able to extract an amount For a defined coating material, the impression roller will be placed on the implant that will be coated in such a way that the suction and / or adsorption forces are intrinsic to the surface properties of the implant that will be coated enough to be able to attract the implant. coating material present in the recesses of the surface of the printing roller cover, in order to apply, by a lengthwise movement, in an error-proof manner, the surface of the printing roller cover and the body surface to be coated, the coating material present in the recesses of the surface of the roller sleeve to print on the surface of the implant that will be coated.
18. 18. A use of a printing process to apply a defined amount of a coating material on an implant to be coated with an anilox roll.
19. 19. The use according to claim 18, characterized in that the implant to be coated is selected from medical or therapeutic implants such as, for example, stents, endovascular prostheses, coronary stents, peripheral endovascular prostheses, orthopedic implants, bone or joint prostheses, hearts artificial, artificial heart valves, electrodes for pacemakers, and / or intramuscular implants and the like.
20. 20. The use according to any of claims 18 or 19, characterized in that the coating material is a solution, suspension or emulsion of one or more active agents or precursors of active agents in a suitable carrier medium.
21. 21. The use according to claim 20, characterized in that the active agents or precursors of active agents are selected from pharmacologically effective substances, microorganisms, living organic cellular material, as well as also biocompatible inorganic or organic substances.
22. 22. A coated implant, which can be produced according to the method according to any of claims 1 to 16.