Implantable medical devices having a polymer gradient coating capable of
controllably releasing at least one pharmaceutical compound to a
localized area are disclosed. More specifically, the gradient coatings
comprise at least two layers where at least one of these layers
incorporates at least one pharmaceutical compound. Each of the layers of
the gradient coating has at least one physical property affecting the
releasability of the pharmaceutical compound incorporated therein that
differs from that of at least one other layer. These physical properties
include, but are not limited to, solubility constants, molecular weights,
elution profiles, and bonding strengths.