US2004182312A1PendingUtilityA1

Apparatus and method for coating implantable devices

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Assignee: PACETTI STEPHEN DPriority: May 31, 2001Filed: Mar 30, 2004Published: Sep 23, 2004
Est. expiryMay 31, 2021(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Stephen D. Pacetti
A61L 31/16B05D 3/0486B05D 1/02B05B 16/00A61L 2300/00B05D 3/0493B05B 13/0235A61L 31/10
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Claims

Abstract

A method of forming a coating for an implantable medical device, such as a stent, is provided which includes applying a composition to the device in an environment having a selected pressure. An apparatus is also provided for coating the devices. The apparatus comprises a chamber for housing the device wherein the pressure of the chamber can be adjusted during the coating process.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for coating implantable devices, comprising: 
 a) a chamber in which a coating composition comprising a coating solvent can be applied to an implantable device;    b) a pressure controller for adjusting the pressure of the chamber during the coating process to other than ambient pressure,    wherein other than ambient pressure is greater than 760 torr if the coating solvent is non-volatile, and alternatively, wherein other than ambient pressure is less than 760 torr if the coating solvent is volatile.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  additionally including an applicator for spraying a composition at the device.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  additionally including a support assembly for holding the device during the coating process.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  additionally including means for rotating the device during the coating process.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  additionally including means for moving the device in a linear direction during the coating process.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  additionally including means for creating convection flow within the chamber.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the coating process comprises the application of the composition to the device and wherein the composition further comprises a polymer and optionally a therapeutic substance.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  additionally including a temperature controller for adjusting the temperature of the chamber.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for coating implantable devices, comprising: 
 a) a chamber in which a coating composition comprising a coating solvent can be applied to an implantable device;    b) a pressure controller for adjusting the pressure of the chamber during the coating process to other than ambient pressure,    wherein other than ambient pressure is greater than 760 torr if the coating solvent evaporation rate is to be decreased, and alternatively, wherein other than ambient pressure is less than 760 torr if the coating solvent evaporation rate is to be increased.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  additionally including an applicator for spraying the composition at the device.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  additionally including a support assembly for holding the device during the coating process.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9  additionally including means for rotating the device during the coating process.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9  additionally including means for moving the device in a linear direction during the coating process.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9  additionally including means for creating convection flow within the chamber.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the coating process comprises the application of the composition to the device and wherein the composition further comprises a polymer and optionally a therapeutic substance.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9  additionally including a temperature controller for adjusting the temperature of the chamber.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for coating implantable devices, comprising: 
 a) a chamber in which a coating composition comprising a coating solvent can be applied to an implantable device;    b) a pressure controller for selecting the pressure of the chamber during the coating process to a pressure,    wherein pressure is other than ambient pressure and is based on the vapor pressure of the coating solvent.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  additionally including an applicator for spraying the composition at the device.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17  additionally including a support assembly for holding the device during the coating process.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17  additionally including means for rotating the device during the coating process.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 17  additionally including means for moving the device in a linear direction during the coating process.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 17  additionally including means for creating convection flow within the chamber.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the coating process comprises the application of the composition to the device and wherein the composition further comprises a polymer and optionally a therapeutic substance.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 17  additionally including a temperature controller for adjusting the temperature of the chamber.

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