WO2017001414A1

WO2017001414A1 - Gastroenterology implant or urology implant, method for the production thereof, and device for the production thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2017001414A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/065034
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marcus Kuhn
Original assignee: AxynTeC Dünnschichttechnik GmbH
Priority date: 2015-06-29
Filing date: 2016-06-28
Publication date: 2017-01-05
Also published as: DE102015110452A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an implant configured for gastroenterology or urology, comprising: a plastic body, which is produced by injection moulding or extrusion, with a cross-sectional shape which extends along a longitudinal axis of the implant, wherein the plastic body has a body wall, wherein the body wall has one or more sides, and wherein the one or more sides have a total surface area; wherein the plastic body is configured by openings in the body wall and/or by the shape of the cross-sectional surface such that, in relation to a projection on a jacket surface of a circular cylinder surrounding the plastic body, the following property is provided: at least 70%, in particular at least 90%, of all points on the total surface area can be projected onto the jacket surface with a straight line that does not intersect the body wall; and a coating on the one or more sides, wherein the coating is a diamond-like carbon coating (DLC coating).

Description

GASTROENTEROLOGY IMPLANT OR UROLOGY IMPLANT, METHOD FOR THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF AND DEVICE FOR

MAKING THE SAME

TECHNICAL AREA

Embodiments of the present invention relate to implants for gastroenterology or urology. Embodiments further relate to methods for coating implants configured for gastroenterology and urology and devices for coating implants configured for gastroenterology or urology.

STATE OF THE ART

Bile duct obstruction, so-called stenosis, due to benign and malignant diseases clinically represent today a common disease in gastroenterology. There are a variety of diseases that ultimately lead to the disturbance of the bile drain. For example, tumorous changes such as cholangiopancreatic, pancreatic and papillary carcinomas, and benign changes such as papillary stenoses, cholangiopathies in AIDS, cholangitis, choledochal cysts, choledocholithiasis and chronic pancreatitis are common diseases. If the drainage of the bile can not be restored, eg by dilatation of the stenosis, the stent or implant is often inserted. Today, stent therapy is a globally recognized therapeutic method for restoring the billiard outflow. Placement of a bile duct stent is performed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC). The problem of stent insertion by ERCP or PCT is that about 25% of affected patients require the need for a quarterly stent exchange to avoid dangerous stent occlusions. This is necessary to prevent serious side effects, such as jaundice or bile duct inflammation, to life-threatening sepsis. Stenoses can also occur in other hollow organs, such as a ureter, a urethra or in blood vessels. However, it is fundamentally to be distinguished between vascular hollow organs, ie blood vessels, and other hollow organs, such as, for example, the bile duct, the ureter or the urethra. Vascular implants or stents typically have different geometries, are often made of other materials, and have other problems to solve from a medical point of view. For example, consideration of a bacterial infection is less important for vascular stents. For example, patent DE 69913342 T2 relates to an intravascular stent coated with a specific biocompatible composition, for example a diamond-like coating. The stent may in this case be made available from an expandable metal mesh or a metal spring construction.

The problems described above in a bile duct stent, which lead to a need for frequent, for example, quarterly, stent change, can also occur for other hollow organs such as ureters or urethra. For vascular stents, however, problems analogous to those of the bile duct stent described above do not occur.

It is therefore desirable to improve gastroenterology or Gastroenterology stents or Urology Implants or Urology Stents, their production method or devices for their production on.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention relates to an implant configured for gastroenterology or urology comprising: a plastic body made by injection molding or extrusion having a cross-sectional shape extending along a longitudinal axis of the implant, the plastic body having a body wall the body wall has one or more sides, and wherein the one or more sides have a total area; wherein the plastic body is configured by openings in the body wall and / or by the shape of the cross-sectional area such that with respect to a projection on a lateral surface of a circular cylinder enclosing the plastic body is given the following property: at least 70%, in particular at least 90%, of all points on the total area can be with a straight line, which is not the body wall cuts are projected onto the lateral surface; and a coating on one or more sides, the coating being a Diamond-Like-Carbon (DLC) coating.

The present invention also relates to a method of coating an implant configured for gastroenterology or urology, comprising: introducing an extruded plastic body having a cross-sectional shape extruded along a longitudinal extent of the implant into a vacuum chamber, the plastic body having a body wall wherein the body wall has one or more sides, and wherein the one or more sides have a total area; providing a carbonaceous coating material in the vacuum chamber; Generating a plasma in the vacuum chamber; and coating the entire surface with a diamond-like-carbon coating.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a device for coating an implant configured for gastroenterology or urology, comprising: a vacuum chamber; a holder for a coating source in the vacuum chamber and / or a feed for a coating material containing process gas in the vacuum chamber; a source for generating a plasma in the vacuum chamber; a sample holder configured for an implant and / or a method according to the present invention. ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In accordance with embodiments described herein, gastroenterology implants, and methods and apparatus for making the same, may be provided, wherein the configuration of a plastic body permits a coating of a diamond-like carbon material, ie, a diamond-like carbon coating, in a simplified way. The "openness" of the plastic body in this case allows a simplified coating A diamond-like-carbon coating in turn allows the creation of a gastroenterology implant or urology implant with an antimicrobial, anti-adhesive effect, for example against bacteria or fungi. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the plastic body may be a hollow body and the one or more sides include an outer side (outer side) facing the outer surface and an inner side (inner side) opposite to each other, the body wall having a plurality of Having openings, each opening having an opening area, which form in sum a total opening area, and wherein the total opening area with the outer surface (total outer surface) of the outer side (outside) has a ratio range of 40 to 100 to 99 to 100, in particular from 66 to 100 from 90 to 100, more particularly from 70 to 100 to 90 to 100, or where the total opening area is from 40% to 99%, in particular from 66% to 90%, furthermore especially from 70% to 85% of an outer surface (total outer surface) the outer side (outside) is. This makes it possible to resort to extruded or injection-molded hollow bodies which have already found their way into gastroenterology or urology, as a result of which, for example, simplified medical approval procedures and / or simplified acceptance can be achieved. The outer surface (outer surface) of the outer side (outer side) is understood to be that surface which forms the sum of the total opening area and the remaining closed area of the outer side (outer side).

According to another embodiment, the plastic body may have a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of: an S-shape, a star shape, a propeller shape, a shape with wings, a shape with nubs, and a Schaufelradform. Optionally, the body wall of the plastic body may have a plurality of openings. The cross-sectional shape allows an even greater "openness" of the plastic body, which further facilitates the coating of the inner and outer surfaces Furthermore, plastic bodies having the cross-sectional shapes described herein can be formed to expand within a hollow organ.

According to still further embodiments, which may be combined with other embodiments described herein, the plastic body may have an aspect ratio between the longitudinal extent and the maximum cross-sectional dimension of 10: 1 or greater, in particular 20: 1 or greater, more particularly 40: 1 or greater. Additionally or alternatively, the cross-sectional area of the plastic body can be designed such that the enclosing lateral surface has a diameter of 8 mm or less and / or the longitudinal extent of 1 cm or greater may be, in particular 5 cm or larger, more particularly 2-20 cm. These or analogous geometries of plastic bodies have inter alia a medical approval in the field of gastroenterology or urology, so that in this way an adaptation or configuration for the medical areas of gastroenterology or urology can be achieved or can be achieved more easily.

According to still further embodiments, which can be combined with other embodiments described herein, the DLC layer can have a thickness of 1 nm to 5 μm, in particular 20 nm to 2 μm, furthermore especially 50 nm to 1 μm. As a result, a layer thickness with a microbial, antiadhesive effect can be made available.

The methods described here allow a comparatively simple production of a diamond-like carbon coating. For example, the coating may have a homogeneity on the total area of +50, especially +20, the layer thickness or less. Due to the "openness" of the structure of the implants, a coating with improved homogeneity can be produced. This can reduce the risk of uncoated parts, which in turn can lead to medical complications.

Further, the embodiments of gastroenterology implants and urology implants described herein, and methods of making gastroenterology implants and urology implants, permit the use of devices for coating with a diamond-like-carbon coating with relatively minor modifications to the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the disclosure are illustrated in the figures and will be described in more detail below.

FIG. Figure 1 shows a conventional implant or stent as may be used in gastroenterology and urology, respectively; FIG. 2A shows a schematic view of an implant or a

Stents for gastroenterology or urology according to embodiments described herein;

FIG. Figure 2B shows a cross-sectional view of the implant of Figure 2A; FIGS. 3A and 3B schematically show views of another implant according to embodiments described herein in a perspective view and a cross-sectional view;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of

Illustration of an extruded plastic body with a cross section according to embodiments described herein;

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 6 are schematic views of cross sections of others

Embodiments;

FIGS. 7A and 7B schematically show a cross-sectional view of a

Plastic body in an expanded state (see FIG 7A) and in a merged state (see

FIG. 7B) according to embodiments described herein;

FIG. 8A schematically shows a view of an apparatus for

Coating an implant configured for gastroenterology or urology according to embodiments described herein;

FIG. 8B schematically illustrates a view of another apparatus for coating an implant configured for gastroenterology or urology according to embodiments described herein; and FIG. 9 shows a flow chart illustrating a method for

Coating an implant configured for gastroenterology or urology according to embodiments described herein. EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0017] In the following, reference will be made in more detail to various embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. In the following, unless otherwise stated, the same reference numerals are used for identical and equivalent elements.

[0018] According to embodiments described herein

Gastroenterology implants, e.g. Gastroenterology stents, and urological implants, e.g. Urology stents or ureteral splints, coated with a diamond-like-carbon coating (DLC coating). Furthermore, corresponding methods for the production or apparatus for the production are described.

In the clinical routine, the bile duct stents or urology stents are primarily distinguished according to their type of material: plastic stents made of polyethylene (PE), polyurethane (PUR) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and metal stents predominantly made of stainless steel or nickel-titanium alloys (Nitinol) , so-called shape memory alloys. Secondly, the bile duct stents or urology stents are differentiated according to the different shape variants: stents with "flaps" to avoid stent dislocation, stents with side openings to optimize drainage, stents with straight ends or pigtails, and combinations of the above-mentioned shape variants Embodiments of the present invention relate to implants or stents having a plastic body, for example made of PUR, PE, PTFE, FEP, PFA, PLA, PGA, PLGA, as well as combinations and derivatives thereof Plastic stents may be removed in the event of an occlusion The occlusion risk of a conventional plastic stent, such as a PE stent, increases dramatically after 3 months The stent opening rate is directly proportional to the stent diameter The limiting factor, however, is the inner diameter of the popular endoscopes, the the stent lumen on one n diameter of, for example, max. 12 French (1 Fr = Vi mm) limited. In a clinical study, a mean stent patency rate of 4.5 months was obtained for 10 French plastic stents (see, for example, Shepherd, HA, et al., Endoscopic biliary endoprosthesis in the palliation of malignant obstruction of the distally common bile duct: a randomized trial. Br J Surg, 1988. 75 (12): p.

1166-8).

After insertion, e.g. in the bile duct, in a ureter or in a urethra, the stents are colonized very quickly with a microbial biofilm. The microbial attachment promotes sludgain accumulation (e.g., bile gullies) and also stentocclusion. To minimize the risk of stentocclusion, regular stent changes have been necessary so far. However, these are associated with a certain complication rate (e.g., bleeding, pancreatitis, etc.). Depending on the underlying clinical picture, the duration of stent therapy may be several years in the worst case scenario. As a result of the resulting numerous endoscopic interventions, the health system incurs high costs and physical and psychological burdens for the affected patients.

According to embodiments described herein, a diamond-like-carbon coating is applied to the plastic body of the implant or stent. As a result, a microbial adhesion can be reduced, which in turn can reduce the occlusion of the implant.

Embodiments of the present invention further provide stents or implants with a plastic body such that a coating of the plastic body on all sides of the body wall of the plastic body is possible. It should be noted that in conventional Gastroenterology stents or urology stents formed by a hollow body, for example a hollow cylinder, a coating inside the hollow cylinder only up to an aspect ratio of the hollow cylinder, i. a ratio of length to diameter to about 1: 1 is possible.

However, the plastic bodies of the embodiments described herein have a much larger aspect ratio. In contrast to most vascular stents, gastroenterology stents or urology stents can be provided by long hollow bodies which have a small maximum cross-sectional dimension in relation to the longitudinal extent, eg a small diameter. Among other things, in view of further delineating vascular stents, the implants according to the embodiments described herein have a plastic body made by extrusion or injection molding. Here, a plastic, for example, (under extrusion) under pressure from a Shaping opening pressed so that a substantially continuous strand is formed. This can be shortened, for example, following the necessary length of the longitudinal extension of the implant. According to embodiments described here, the implant may be cylindrical. For example, the implant may be cylindrical with an open base and an open top surface, and / or the implant may be with an open lateral surface.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a bile duct stent, which is shown by way of example for other implants from gastroenterology or urology. The implant 10 has a plastic body 11. Openings 12 serve to improve the drainage. Wings 14 are formed from the plastic body 11, in which, for example, the plastic body 11 is partially severed, so that the wing 14 is designed to be foldable. This results in a further wing opening 13. The wings 14 can prevent or reduce a displacement of the implant within the human hollow organ. Thus, the risk of stent dislocation can be reduced. In contrast to vascular stents, bile duct stents for urology have a relatively large ratio of length L to outer diameter D. This ratio can be 10: 1 or greater, more preferably 20: 1 or greater, or even 40: 1 or greater , Furthermore, the outer diameter D is typically 8 mm or smaller.

FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of an implant 100 according to embodiments described herein. The plastic body 110 is formed by extrusion or injection molding of a plastic material. This allows a particularly simple and inexpensive production. The extruded material is brought to the required length L of the implant 100. According to embodiments described herein that may be combined with other embodiments, the ratio of length L to diameter may be 10: 1 or greater, more preferably 20: 1 or greater, or even 40: 1 or greater. Furthermore, additionally or alternatively, the outer diameter D may be 8 mm or smaller, for example 4 mm.

Similar to the implant 10 described in FIG. 1, wings 140 and wing openings 130 for the implant 100, as exemplified in FIG. 2A, may be provided. The wings 140 reduce the risk of dislocation. According to embodiments described herein, the plastic body 110 is coated with a DLC coating 210. This is indicated schematically in FIG. 2A. FIG. 2B shows a cross-sectional drawing of the implant 100 of FIG. 2A. According to embodiments described herein, which may be combined with other embodiments, the DLC coating 210 is provided on the outside 112 of the plastic body 110 and provided on the inside 114 of the plastic body. Furthermore, the coating 210 may be provided in the openings 120.

[0029] According to embodiments described herein, an implant configured for gastroenterology or urology is provided. The implant includes an extruded plastic body having a cross-sectional shape extruded along a longitudinal extent of the implant, the plastic body having a body wall, the body wall having one or more sides, and wherein the one or more sides have a total area, the plastic body passing through Openings in the body wall are formed such that with respect to a projection on a lateral surface of the plastic body enclosing circular cylinder is given the following property: at least 70%, in particular at least 90% of all points on the total area can with a straight line, the body wall does not cut, be projected onto the lateral surface. A coating on one or more sides is provided, the coating being a Diamond-Like-Carbon (DLC) coating.

The implant can be used for keeping open the bile duct, consisting of a body made of a plastic or of a polymer with a coating applied on at least a first surface coating containing diamond-like carbon (DLC). According to embodiments described herein, which may be combined with other embodiments, the diamond-like carbon (DLC) layers include all carbon layers, for example amorphous carbon layers, which in turn, inter alia, in VDI Guideline 2840 Modifications (eg aC, aC: H, ta-C, etc.) are divided. Most modifications have both sp2-hybridized (graphitic) and sp3-hybridized

(diamond-like) bonds of the carbon atoms. Because some DLC layers are off

Hydrocarbons (C _x H _y ) are generated and these layers therefore a certain H In addition to the sp2 / sp3 ratio, the proportion of hydrogen is also used to characterize DLC. ta-C layers contain no significant H-content, as they are not from hydrocarbon, but from solid carbon (graphite) usually via PVD methods such as arc welding (arc evaporation), sputtering (ion sputtering) or laser (PLD, Pulsed Laser Deposition) procedures are obtained. The sp3 content in ta-C layers can be between 50% and 90%, depending on the manufacturing conditions. As a result, the ta-C layers reach far beyond the properties of crystalline diamond.

According to other embodiments described herein, which may be combined with other embodiments, diamond-like carbon layers (DLC) may, inter alia, also in the modifications aC: H, ta-C: H, aC: H: X, aC: H: Me or in other modifications occur. These can be produced via PECVD or combinations of PVD and PECVD processes. In the case of the a-C: H: X modifications, for example silicon, oxygen, nitrogen or fluorine can be used as doping element X, in the case of the a-C: H: Me modifications metal doping, for example tungsten, titanium or chromium. In addition, the layer architecture within the DLC layer can be constructed, for example, as a monolayer, as a multilayer or as a graded layer system.

By the DLC coatings described above, bile duct stents or implants in the field of gastroenterology or urology can be provided, which reduce the attachment of bacteria, fungi and proteins to modifications of DLC on plastic surfaces.

For example, it has been found that DLC coatings can significantly reduce germ adhesion by about 30%, from over 460 * 10 ^J CFU / cm ² for pure PUR stent surfaces to less than 328 * 10 ³ CFU / cm ² for DLC coated PUR surfaces. According to still further embodiments, which can be combined with other embodiments described here, the DLC layer can have a thickness of 1 nm to 5 μm, in particular 20 nm to 2 μm, and in particular 50 nm to 1 μm. As a result, a layer, in particular a closed layer, with an anti-adhesive effect can be made available in order to reduce or completely prevent the accumulation of germs. In accordance with other embodiments described herein that may be combined with other embodiments, the DLC coating may include antimicrobial additives. For example, the DLC layer may form a matrix for the antimicrobial additives. These antimicrobial additives can include metals that can be incorporated into the DLC layer. Alternatively or additionally, these antimicrobial additives may also include antibiotics, antiseptics, or antiadhesive agents. Preferred antibiotics in the active agent-containing coatings described above include gentamicin, teicoplanin, ciprofloxacin. Preferred antiseptics in the above-described active substance-containing coatings include octenidine, triclosan, chlorhexidine Preferred anti-adhesive substances in above-described active substance-containing coatings comprise at least one substance selected from the group consisting of cranberry extract Spidersilk, biodegradable polymers (eg, resomer) and citrate In embodiments that may be combined with other embodiments, the DLC coating may be part of a coating system wherein at least a first layer is an antibiotic such as gentamicin, teicoplanin, or Ciprofloxacin, an antiseptic such as triclosan, octenidine or chlorhexidine, and / or containing antimicrobial metal ions such as Cu or Ag., One or more biodegradable polymers (eg Resomer) may preferably be used as excipients in this first layer Alternatively or alternatively, the coating system may contain flavonoids such as cranberry extracts, or polymers such as spider silk.

According to still further embodiments that may be combined with other embodiments described herein, the coating system may include at least a first layer of diamond like carbon and a second layer above the first layer containing an antibiotic such as gentamicin, teicolplanin or ciprofloxacin, an antiseptic such as triclosan, octenidine or chlorhexidine, and / or antimicrobial metal ions such as Cu or Ag. Preferably, one or more biodegradable polymers (eg resomers) can be used as the active substance carrier in this second layer. Alternatively, the second layer may also be constructed of diamond like carbon as a matrix into which the antimicrobial agent containing an antibiotic such as gentamicin, teicoplanin or Ciprofloxacin, an antiseptic such as triclosan, octenidine or chlorhexidine, and / or antimicrobial metal ions such as Cu or Ag may be embedded in the matrix.

In contrast to FIG. 1, the implant 100 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B is an enlarged "openness." For the implant 100, as exemplified in Fig. 2A, this is achieved by an increased number of openings 120. The ratio of the sum of the areas of the openings 120 in proportion For example, 40% or more, in particular 66% or more, can be applied to the outer surface of the plastic body without openings, Thus, according to embodiments described herein, an opening ratio, that is a ratio of the sum of the areas of the openings in the outer surface of the plastic body to the outer surface of the Plastic body, from 40% to 99%, in particular from 66% to 90, further provided in particular from 70% to 85%.

In general, an open shell surface, i. a lateral surface having an opening ratio described here or a sum of the areas of the openings described here can be provided in that one or more openings exist over at least 90% of the longitudinal extent or longitudinal axis of the implant, for example of a cylindrical implant.

According to embodiments described herein, a plastic body extends along a longitudinal axis or longitudinal extent of the implant. In the context of the present disclosure, the term longitudinal axis refers to the extent predetermined by the extrusion or the injection molding process. This can correspond for example to an extension of a hollow organ of a body. Thus, in extension along the longitudinal axis adjacent e.g. a cone shape and a bend (or a kink of the "tube"), for example with a variety of angles, an implant can thus also be used in a position for supporting, in which the hollow organ has a curvature or "corner".

Fig. 2B illustrates another aspect of "openness" as particularly applicable hereinafter to embodiments described with reference to Figs 4 to 7 B. Fig. 2B shows a Cross-section of the plastic body 110 with the openings 120. In addition, a the Plastic body enclosing circular cylinder or its lateral surface 200 shown. This can also symbolize, for example, a hollow organ of a human body into which the implant 100 is implanted. On the other hand, it can also stand for the area through which the coating material DLC can be applied to the surface of the implant by means of coating methods that can be used, and thus for a two-dimensional or, if the end faces of the implant are considered, three-dimensional coating source. The flow direction is either perpendicular to the surface (envelope) or at least straight. The openness of the plastic body with the openings 120 can be defined by how many points on the total area of the plastic body 110, the total area in the example of FIG. 2B being formed by the outer surface 112, the inner surface 114 and the areas within the openings 120 be connected by a straight line with the circular cylinder or the lateral surface 200 of the circular cylinder, without that straight line the body wall of the plastic body 110 intersects. This can be spoken of a projection with any projection directions.

By way of example, FIG. 2B shows a point 250 on the outer side 112 of the plastic body 110. Points on the outer side 112 can be connected to the circular cylinder or to the lateral surface 200 with a plurality of straight lines 251. By the opening ratio defined above, however, also points 250 on the inside 114 of the hollow body of the plastic body 110 can be connected with a straight line 251 to the lateral surface 200 of the circular cylinder. Consequently, in accordance with embodiments that can be combined with other embodiments described herein, the following property applies to a projection on a circumferential surface of a circular cylinder enclosing the plastic body: at least 70, in particular at least 90, of all points on the entire surface can be straight Line, which does not cut the body wall, are projected onto the lateral surface.

The projection by means of any straight line which does not intersect the body wall, as discussed above, may also be referred to as the accessibility or direct accessibility of the plastic body for the DLC coating material. Thus, according to embodiments described here at least 70, in particular at least 90% all points on the plastic body directly accessible for DLC coating or directly accessible.

In the case of embodiments in which the plastic body is a hollow body and in which the one or more sides is an outer side of the plastic body, which faces the lateral surface, the total opening area with the outer surface of the outer side of the plastic body, a ratio of 40 to 100 to 99 to 100, in particular from 66 to 100 to 90 to 100, more particularly from 70 to 100 to 85 to 100 and / or the total opening area can have a value of 40% to 99%, in particular 66% to 90% , furthermore, in particular, be from 70% to 85% of the outer surface of the outer side. FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate further embodiments according to the disclosure herein. In comparison with FIG. 2A, in addition to the openings 120, further openings 122 exist in FIG. 3A. The further openings 122 may have a larger opening area. For example, the further openings 122 may be slit-shaped or oval. By virtue of the openings 122 being enlarged in comparison with openings 120, the total opening area of all the openings can form a value of 40% to 99%, in particular 66% to 90, furthermore especially 70% to 85%, of the outer surface of the outer side. As a result, a coating with a DLC coating on all sides, in particular also on the inner sides of a hollow body is possible.

In general, an open shell surface, i. a lateral surface having an opening ratio described here (or a sum of the areas of the openings described here) can be provided in that one or more openings exist over at least 90% of the longitudinal extension or longitudinal axis of the implant, for example a cylindrical implant.

Furthermore, the coating can be provided on the entire surface of the plastic body 110 with improved homogeneity. For example, the homogeneity on the total area of the plastic body may have a deviation of at most + 50%, in particular + 20% of the layer thickness or less. The improved homogeneity or process control with respect to homogeneity allows thinner DLC layers to be applied without the increased risk of producing uncoated surfaces of the plastic body 110. Uncoated areas could promote sludge accumulation (eg gallstones) due to microbial adhesion in turn would increase the risk of stentocclusion. On the other hand, to minimize coverage of poorly accessible sites, layer thicknesses that are too high must not be applied to other exposed areas of the stent surface, which may then be subject to the risk of delamination. As explained with respect to the embodiments described above, the possibility of coating the plastic body on all sides of the plastic body can be provided by an appropriate number and / or size of opening in the body wall. By the appropriate number and / or size of the openings, the "openness" of the plastic body can be made available in such a way to allow a coating of the plastic body on all sides and in necessary homogeneity.

According to other embodiments described herein, which may be combined with other embodiments, the outer diameter of the plastic body of the implant may be conical or convex along the longitudinal axis. This can lead to a simplified implantation. Furthermore, additionally or alternatively, the plastic body may be configured such that a lamellar structure is present at least along the longitudinal axis of the plastic body, for example a cylindrical implant. As a result, similar to the use of wings, the risk of stent dislocation can be reduced. In addition, this can improve the drainage, since the stent thus primarily consists almost only of external surfaces, which are involved in the drainage. In addition, this can improve the coatability with DLC from the gas phase.

In gastroenterology implants or urology implants, however, the flow rate through the corresponding hollow organ of the body is not significantly determined by the internal geometry, for example an inner diameter, of the implant. Rather, liquids in the body trickle through the hollow organ, and the implant essentially serves to prevent the closure of the hollow organ. Thus, in the field of gastroenterology or urology, for example, the body fluid can also flow (flow away) outside a structure or a geometry of an implant. The flow properties for the body fluid made available by the implant are therefore essentially secondary, as long as the body fluid can trickle through the hollow organ or flow along the support structure. Thus, for embodiments described herein, which have a plastic body with a longitudinal extension, it is possible to provide further cross-sectional shapes of the plastic body, which can also be coated on all sides by the shape of the cross-sectional area for a projection the following property is given on a lateral surface of a circular cylinder enclosing the plastic body: at least 70%, in particular at least 90%, of all points on the entire surface can be projected onto the lateral surface with a straight line which does not intersect the body wall.

Furthermore, embodiments can be provided by the shape of the cross section of the plastic body, which allow the projection described above. In this case, it is also possible, in particular, for 100% or almost 100% of all points on sides or surfaces of the plastic body to permit such a projection. The projection by any straight line that does not intersect the body wall as discussed above may also be referred to as the accessibility or direct accessibility of the plastic body for the DLC coating material. Thus, according to embodiments described here, at least 70%, in particular at least 90%, of all points on the plastic body are directly accessible or directly accessible for the DLC coating. In particular, for shapes of the cross section of the plastic body, which differ from a hollow body, embodiments with an accessibility of 100% or nearly 100% of all points on the plastic body can be realized.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of a plastic body 110. This plastic body can also be formed by extrusion. The plastic body 110 has an S-shaped cross section. The S-shaped cross section can prevent a closure of a hollow organ of a human. Moreover, a plastic body 110 having an S-shaped cross section can be provided with a DLC coating 210 relatively easily.

As shown in Fig. 5A, all points 250 have a straight connecting line 251 to a lateral surface 200 of a plastic body enclosing the hollow cylinder. This is especially true for both sides 412 and 414 of the plastic body 110. Thus, a plastic body 110, which is provided by extrusion, a

Have cross-sectional area, so that a projection on a lateral surface of the

Plastic body enclosing circular cylinder has the following property: 100% of all Points on the total surface of the plastic body can be projected onto the lateral surface of the enclosing circular cylinder with a straight line, which does not intersect the body wall of the plastic body, or can be connected to the lateral surface of the enclosing circular cylinder. As a further embodiment, which can be combined with embodiments described here, a guide opening 510 for a guide wire of an endoscope is provided for the embodiment of the implant 100 in FIG. 5B. The guide opening 510 may be configured to be inserted into a hollow organ with a wire, for example, 0.5 mm to 1.2 mm in diameter, typically 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm. Thus, a cross-sectional area, as exemplified in Fig. 5B, provides the possibility of a simple endoscopic implantation. In particular, it is possible to resort to known endoscopic methods in which an implant is guided on a guide wire in order subsequently to be placed with a pusher at the predefined position in a hollow organ. In this case, the guide wire can be removed so that the implant or the stent remains in the position in the hollow organ.

Fig. 6 shows another embodiment of a plastic body 110 which can be provided by extrusion. The plastic body 110 has a star-shaped cross section, which can be provided within a lateral surface 200 of an enclosing circular cylinder. The enclosing circular cylinder can be used for the definition of openness described above and / or can schematically represent a hollow organ of a human body.

The plastic body 110 has a plurality of sides. By way of example only the pages 612-1,612-4,612-9,612-16,612-21, and 612-24 are marked with reference numerals in FIG. All of these pages can be coated with a DLC coating 210. In particular, a DLC coating process is simplified in that all sides of the star-shaped plastic body 110 have only points that can be connected with a straight line with the lateral surface 200 of the circular cylinder.

According to further embodiments, which can be combined with other embodiments described herein, the cross-sectional area of the plastic body 110 shown in FIG. 6 further offers the possibility of a Guide opening in the center, as described with reference to Fig. 5B, to provide. The guide opening can be used for a guide wire in the context of an endoscopic implantation of the implant or stent.

As described with reference to Figures 4, 5A, 5B and 6, the plastic body may have a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of: an S-shape, a star shape, a propeller shape (see also FIG 7A) of a form with wings, and a shape with nubs. In particular, these shapes can be described by n-fold rotational symmetry, where two or more side surfaces exist, and more than 80% of the side surfaces of a lateral surface 200 face a circular cylinder enclosing the plastic body, i. can be projected on a lateral surface of the circular cylinder with a straight line. According to embodiments that may be combined with other embodiments described herein, the cross-sectional area of the plastic body may be configured such that the enclosing circumferential surface has a diameter of 8 mm or less. [0061] According to further embodiments that may be combined with embodiments described herein, plastic bodies having, for example, a cross-sectional shape of an S-shape, a star shape, a propeller shape, or other analog shapes may also be apertured. As a result, for example, a drainage can be further improved. According to still further embodiments, which may be combined with other embodiments described herein, the DLC layer may continue on plastic bodies having a cross-sectional area improved for the coating process, a thickness of 1 nm to 5 μm, in particular 20 nm to 2 μm in particular 50 nm to 1 μιη, have. These DLC coatings can provide bile duct stents or implants in the field of gastroenterology or urology, reduce the attachment of bacteria, fungi, and proteins to modifications of DLC on plastic surfaces.

The FIGS. FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate another property of plastic bodies 110 that may be used in accordance with embodiments described herein, particularly for plastic bodies as described with respect to FIGS. 4, 5A, 5B, 6, 7A and 7B. FIG. 7A shows a plastic body 110 with a first wing 732, a second wing 734 and a third wing 736, which are attached to a centrally located axis 710. The wings 732, 734 and 736 each have a first side and a second side to which a coating 210 is applied. According to embodiments described herein, the wings may also be formed as parts of an S-shape, as curved ridges or in a similar manner. Plastic body 110, as shown by way of example in FIG. 7A may have n-fold rotational symmetry, where n may typically be given by the number of vanes. The plastic body shown in FIG. 7A is provided in an expanded position within the peripheral surface 200 of a surrounding circular cylinder can expand within a hollow organ. To insert the implant - for example, to protect the papilla Vateri - the implant can be rolled or folded, so that reduced in this rolled-up state, the outer diameter of the implant. As a result, the implant can be introduced, for example, as part of an endoscopic procedure without Papillenschlitzung. At the desired position in the context of a hollow organ, the implant from its in FIG. 7B are brought into the expanded position shown in FIG. 7A. Thus, according to embodiments described herein which may be combined with other embodiments, the plastic body of the implant may be made expandable. When folded in, the implant can be held on the reduced diameter with an over-tube. This can be used for a papilla-sparing cross-sectional taper. A subsequent unfolding of the cross section after papilla passage due to the elastic behavior of the plastic body, can keep the hollow organ open at the desired position as desired. Positioning with an over-tube represents a variant for implantation with a guide wire and a pusher, in which case in particular a reduction in the cross-section during implantation can be provided.

Fig. 8A shows a first exemplary embodiment of an apparatus 800 for coating an implant configured for gastroenterology or urology. The device 800 includes a vacuum chamber 802, wherein, for example, one or more vacuum ports 804 may be provided. Vacuum pumps may be connected to the vacuum ports 804 to connect the vacuum chamber 802 for the vacuum chamber Coating process to evacuate to a technical vacuum of, for example, a pressure of 10 ^" mbar or less.

A sample holder 810 is configured to support an implant during the coating process. Moreover, in a device 800 as shown in Fig. 8A, the sample holder may be further configured as an electrode, i. For example, a power supply that can be operated in an unpulsed or pulsed manner may be connected to provide a plasma 80 between the electrodes together with another electrode 830 or against the chamber wall. Electrode 830 may also be implemented as a stand-alone plasma source, as well as being configured as a gas shower, in accordance with some embodiments that may be combined with other embodiments. The gas shower may include one or more openings 832 for directing process gases or a process gas mixture into the area of the plasma 80 in the vacuum chamber 802. For this purpose, for example, a first inlet 840 and a second inlet 842 may be provided. The arrows 841 and 843 indicate the supply of process gases. The process gases or the process gas mixture is adapted to deposit carbonaceous layers on the implant, in particular diamond-like, carbonaceous layers (DLC layers).

The device 800 as shown in FIG. 8A can be used, for example, for a CVD (chemical vapor deposition) process or a PECVD (plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition) process or a PIII & D (plasma immersion ion implantation & deposition) process be used. In these processes so called precursors, i. Process gases, provided in a coating area in the vacuum chamber 802. In addition to carbon for the DLC coating, the precursors may also contain further doping elements in order to obtain the desired DLC coating or the desired DLC modification or the desired DLC doping.

By applying an electric voltage, which can be operated unpulsed or pulsed, to the sample holder 810, ions of the coating material present in the plasma 80 are accelerated in the direction of the sample holder, thereby providing a directed coating process can. The use of a directional coating process may be advantageous for some of the geometries of the plastic body of an implant in terms of coatability of the Surface or certain properties, the quality or homogeneity of the coating.

[0069] According to embodiments described herein that may be combined with other embodiments, an apparatus for coating an implant configured for gastroenterology or urology is provided. The apparatus includes a vacuum chamber, a supply of process gas containing the coating material into the vacuum chamber, a plasma generator, for example, an electrode assembly, and a sample holder configured for an implant of the embodiments described herein or a method according to the embodiments described herein. Thus, an embodiment of a coating apparatus may be adapted by relatively minor modifications to coat an implant according to embodiments described herein or to perform a method of coating an implant according to embodiments described herein.

Fig. 8B shows another embodiment of an apparatus 800 for coating an implant configured for gastroenterology or urology. The apparatus 800 includes, analogously to the apparatus described with reference to FIG. 8A, a vacuum chamber 802, a vacuum port 804, and a sample holder 810. A plasma 80 is exemplarily provided inductively in FIG. 8B. For this purpose, coils 820 can be made available. The coating material, ie, a carbonaceous material, is provided by a target 870 in the vacuum chamber 802. In Fig. 8B, a PVD (physical vapor deposition) process takes place in which target material is removed from the target, for example by a laser 852, in order to be coated on the implant. The arrow 853 indicates the laser beam, which can be passed through a window 850 in the vacuum chamber 802. In this case, a PLD (pulsed laser deposition) process is carried out, which in turn also generates a plasma from the ablated target material by interaction with the laser beam. The target removal can alternatively also be carried out via ions (sputtering). The PVD process can also be additionally supported by a further, inductively ignited plasma 80. In addition, a plasma cleaning or activating operation of the plastic surface may be performed via the inductively generated plasma in advance of the coating operation. This can be advantageous for the layer adhesion on the plastic body. [0071] In accordance with embodiments described herein that may be combined with other embodiments, an apparatus for coating an implant configured for gastroenterology or urology is provided. The apparatus includes a vacuum chamber, a holder for a coating source in the vacuum chamber, a plasma generator, for example an electrode assembly, plasma source and / or PLD module, and a sample holder configured for an implant of the embodiments described herein or a method according to FIG of the embodiments described herein. Thus, an embodiment of a coating apparatus may be adapted by relatively minor modifications to coat an implant according to embodiments described herein or to perform a method of coating an implant according to embodiments described herein.

According to other embodiments described herein, the devices described herein may include a controller or a computer program product, wherein a computer program that is storable on a computer readable medium has instructions that, in practice, include a method of coating an implant as described herein Carry out embodiments of the invention.

9 shows a flowchart describing by way of example a method for coating an implant configured for gastroenterology or urology. The method includes providing a carbonaceous coating material in the vacuum chamber (see block 902). The method includes (see block 904) inserting an extruded plastic body having a cross-sectional shape that is extruded along a longitudinal extent of the implant or injection molded into a vacuum chamber. Typically, moreover, a plasma may be provided in the vacuum chamber in advance of the start of the coating process (see block 906). The plasma serves, for example, for cleaning and / or activating the still uncoated plastic surface or for supporting the coating process. The method further includes coating the entire surface of the plastic body with a DLC coating (see block 908). In particular, the implants which are coated in the context of a method described here, implants of the embodiments described herein may be, wherein the plastic body through openings in the Body wall and / or is designed by the shape of the cross-sectional area such that in relation to a projection on a lateral surface of the plastic body enclosing circular cylinder is given the following property: at least 70%, in particular at least 90%, of all points on the total area can with a straight Line, which does not cut the body wall, projected onto the lateral surface.

According to embodiments described herein, a plasma for generating a DLC coating may be capacitively or inductively provided in a vacuum chamber (see, for example, chamber 802 in FIGS. 8A and 8B). In some embodiments, a plasma may also be provided outside the chamber and / or in a separate plasma generator. In this case, a voltage on a sample holder, for example a pulsed high voltage, can be used to guide the coating material to the sample or to the plastic body of the implant.

Furthermore, in a PLD method, the energy of the laser can be used to generate the plasma. By focusing the laser beam on the surface of the target 870, in this case material is removed from the target for coating the implant. The material of the target can be melted and evaporated or exploded, with the material usually spreading perpendicular to the target surface. In addition, the laser light may interact with the ablated particles, resulting in the ionization of the cloud of particles and thus the formation of a plasma.

According to further embodiments that may be combined with embodiments described herein, the coating may have a homogeneity on the total area of the plastic body of + 50% of the layer thickness or less. The coating material can be provided as a solid in the vacuum chamber, and the coating by means of physical vapor deposition (PVD), in particular laser-induced PVD (PLD), are provided. For example, the PLD process offers the advantage of a low process temperature close to room temperature, which accommodates the treatment of the relevant plastics. The coating material may also be provided as a gas in the vacuum chamber, and the coating may be carried out as Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), in particular PECVD or PIII & D. According to embodiments described herein, a diamond-like-carbon coating is applied to the plastic body of the implant or stent. As a result, a microbial adhesion can be reduced, which in turn can reduce the occlusion of the implant. Embodiments of the present invention further provide stents or implants with a plastic body such that a coating of the plastic body on all sides of the body wall of the plastic body is possible. It should be noted that in conventional Gastroenterology stents or urology stents, which are formed by a hollow body, for example a hollow cylinder, a DLC coating in the interior of the hollow cylinder only up to an aspect ratio, ie a ratio of length to diameter to about 1 : 1 is possible.

Although the present invention has been described above by means of typical embodiments, it is not limited thereto, but modifiable in many ways. Also, the invention is not limited to the applications mentioned.

Claims

An implant configured for gastroenterology or urology, comprising: a plastic body made by injection molding or extrusion having a cross-sectional shape extending along a longitudinal axis of the implant, the plastic body having a body wall, the body wall one or more Having sides, and wherein the one or more pages have a total area; wherein the plastic body is configured by openings in the body wall and / or by the shape of the cross-sectional area such that following in relation to a projection on a circumferential surface of a circular cylinder surrounding the plastic body

Property: at least 70%, in particular at least 90%, of all points on the total area can be projected onto the lateral surface with a straight line which does not cut the body wall; and a coating on one or more sides, the coating being a Diamond-Like-Carbon (DLC) coating.

2. The implant according to claim 1, wherein the plastic body is a hollow body and the one or more sides an outer side, which faces the lateral surface, and an opposite inner side, wherein the body wall having a plurality of openings, each opening having an opening area , which in their total one

Form the total opening area, and the total opening area is from 40% to 99% of the outer surface of the outer side.

3. The implant according to claim 1, wherein the plastic body has a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of: an S-shape, a star shape, a propeller shape, a shape with wings, a shape with nubs, and a Bucket wheel shape.

4. The implant according to claim 3, wherein the body wall of the plastic body has a plurality of openings.

5. Implant according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plastic body has an aspect ratio between the longitudinal extent and the maximum cross-sectional dimension of 10: 1 or greater, in particular 20: 1 or greater, more particularly 40: 1 or greater.

6. Implant according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cross-sectional surface of the plastic body is designed so that the enclosing lateral surface a

Diameter of 8 mm or less.

7. Implant according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the longitudinal extent is 5 cm or larger.

8. Implant according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the DLC layer has a thickness of 1 nm to 5 μιη.

9. A method of coating an implant configured for gastroenterology or urology, comprising:

Introducing an extruded plastic body having a cross-sectional shape, which is extruded along a longitudinal extent of the implant, in a vacuum chamber, wherein the

Plastic body having a body wall, the body wall having one or more sides, and wherein the one or more sides have a total area; providing a carbonaceous coating material in the

Vacuum chamber; Generating a plasma in the vacuum chamber; and

Coating the whole surface with a Diamond-Like-Carbon coating.

The method of claim 9, wherein the coating has a homogeneity on the total area of +/- 50% of the layer thickness or less.

11. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 10, wherein the implant is an implant according to one of claims 1 to 8.

12. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the coating material is provided as a solid or as a solid and gas in the vacuum chamber, and the coating by means of physical vapor deposition (PVD), in particular laser-induced PVD (Pulsed Laser Deposition, PLD) , is provided.

13. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the coating material is provided as a gas in the vacuum chamber, and the coating as a chemical vapor deposition (CVD), in particular PECVD or PIII & D, is provided.

14. An apparatus for coating an implant configured for

Gastroenterology or urology, comprising: a vacuum chamber; a holder for a coating source in the vacuum chamber and / or a feed for a coating material containing process gas in the vacuum chamber; a source for generating a plasma in the vacuum chamber; a sample holder configured for an implant according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and / or a method according to any one of claims 9 to 13.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising: a controller for executing a computer program stored on a computer

computer-readable medium and having instructions that perform a method according to any one of claims 9 to 13 when executed.