Harland Medical Systems, Inc.

Jonathan D Anderson

Scott D Schmidt

Kevin Arnold Fleischhacker

Mark P Toma

Aaron J Anderson

Dale L Anderson

High throughput UV curing systems for mass curing of a plurality of articles without compromising product quality. The systems comprise a plurality of UV banks, each bank comprising a plurality of fluorescent UV lamps, thereby creating a consistent blanket of UV energy. A plurality of coated articles are positioned between pairs of banks such that the UV exposure or dosage is evenly distributed for each article. The fluorescent UV lamps use proportionally lower energy per unit and generate less heat than standard UV lamps, while sufficiently curing the coating on each article. Throughput is increased compared to currently available systems because the systems are easier to maintain requiring less downtime, can cure significantly more articles per cycle, and reduce the number of rejected products.

High throughput UV curing systems and methods of curing a plurality of articles

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for modifying a structure such as a medical device through the selective application of a coating. A coating sleeve may comprise an elastomeric wall that may be permeable or impermeable to a coating material and may be porous so as to allow for patterned coating of the device. The coating sleeve may contain surface protrusions that facilitate manipulation by providing sites for grasping and pulling. In operation the coating sleeve may be fitted on the device prior to application of a coating and removed subsequent to application of the coating.

Coating sleeve

A coating apparatus and method for flimsy elongate members has at least one elongate funnel tube with an inlet, an outlet, and an intermediate portion, the inlet in a basin, a fluid circulating system suitable connecting the outlet to provide flow into the inlet. Each inlet receives an elongate flimsy component and utilizes the circulating fluid to pull the flimsy elongate member into the funnel tube whereby the coating of the flimsy elongate member is accomplished. The invention also includes the method for coating such a flimsy elongate member utilizing the coating apparatus.

Apparatus and method for coating of elongate flimsy members

A coating apparatus for batches of elongate flimsy members includes batch handling portion and a coating portion. The batch handling portion having an array support portion and an array alignment portion. The array support portion secures and vertically moves an array of elongate flimsy members to be lowered into an array of inlets of the coating portion, the inlets aligned in an array. The array alignment portion provides removable discrete position locating of the individual flimsy members by a guide portion that moves from an upwardly position downwardly to position each member of the array in alignment with the array of inlets. The support portion then lowers the flimsy members into the coating portion through the array.

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Chanhassen, MN, United States of America

Jonathan D Anderson