Abbott Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.

Ats Automation Tooling Systems Inc.

Arnoldo M Currlin

Yung-Ming Chen

Jason Van Sciver

Anthony S Andreacchi

Antonio N Garcia

Sang Joon Park

Bryan D Glenn

David Rego

Thomas David Esbeck

Sidney Watterodt

John E Papp

Matthew J Gillick

Hong Zhang

Ian Cameron

Edward P Garcia

Steven E Lehner

Richard Baillargeon

Patrick A Tuohy

Mark Haight

Andrew David Coppin Maw

Calden Wloka

Shaulaine Choo

Kurt Kilchenmann

Bryan Hemphill

Ian Coulson

Andrew James McKay

Aaron Meyer Waese

Various embodiments of methods and devices for drying coated stents in an oven are described herein.

Device for drying coated stents

Various embodiments of methods and devices for coating stents are described herein.

Methods and devices for coating stents

A method for coating a stent can involve a device having a drying zone, a spray zone, and movable member for positioning a stent in the drying zone and another stent in the spray zone. Each stent can be on a support. A force can be applied to the outside surface of a stent to prevent rotation of the stent with respect to the support.

Method for coating stents

Methods and devices for drying coated stents

An apparatus for weighing a stent includes a buffer for storing a stent support with a stent mounted thereon, a stent mounting and dismounting assembly that mounts and dismounts the stent from the stent support, a robotic arm for moving the stent support with the stent between the buffer and the stent mounting and dismounting assembly, and a scale assembly for weighing the stent. The stent mounting and dismounting assembly moves the stent into the scale assembly after the stent has been dismount from the stent support.

Robotic arm for moving a stent support, and stent support gripper assembly

A system and method for inspecting stents can involve an inspection camera to take an image of the stent and a computer system for analyzing the image to determine the presence of any coating defects. The determination can be made by masking out a portion of the stent, identifying deviations from a strut edge, and/or highlighting features protruding from a stent external boundary defining an outer diameter. The image can be taken after a focus feedback camera determines the position of the stent.

Systems and methods for inspection of stents

Systems and methods for the inspection of stents

A system and method of aligning a stent with a stent support involves taking two images of the stent that has been placed on the stent support and determining from the two images whether the stent is aligned with the stent support. The stent can be rotated so that the two images are of different views of the stent. A computer can be configured to receive the images and to determine the whether the stent is aligned. A backlight can be used to take images of the stent in silhouette. A portion of the stent support can be re-positioned based on an image taken of the stent.

Method and system for aligning a stent with a stent support

A system for coating a stent includes a device for weighing a stent, a device for aligning the stent with a stent support, a device for coating the stent, a device for drying the stent, and a device for inspecting the stent.

System and method for coating a stent

Devices for coating stents

Method and apparatus for weighing a stent

A method for aligning a stent with a stent support includes the steps of (1) placing a stent support and a stent mounted on the stent support in a vertically position with the stent support's first support element at a lower position and the stent support's second support element at an upper position; (2) obtaining a digital image of the stent support and stent; (3) analyzing the digital image of the stent support and stent to compute the vertical position of the stent's upper end; (4) computing a desired position of the second support element based on the position of the stent's upper end; and (5) using a positioning device to move the second support element to the desired position. The movement of the second support element causes the conical sections of the first and second support elements to engage the respective ends of the stent to center the stent around a core element of the stent support and to secure the stent in a longitudinal direction of the stent support.

Method for aligning a stent with a stent support

A system for inspecting cylinders according to various aspects of the present invention generally includes a roller assembly comprising a plurality of rollers configured to hold the cylinder. A light source illuminates the cylinder and a camera produces an image of at least a portion of the cylinder as the roller assembly rotates the cylinder about its longitudinal axis. A computer system is configured to control the roller assembly, light source, and camera and analyze the image to identify a defect associated with the cylinder.

Systems and methods for the inspection of cylinders

Method and device for aligning a stent with a stent support

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Arnoldo M Currlin