Abbott Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.

Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.

Ats Automation Tooling Systems Inc.

Thomas David Esbeck

Jason Van Sciver

Yung-Ming Chen

Anthony S Andreacchi

Antonio N Garcia

Arnoldo M Currlin

Sang Joon Park

Bryan D Glenn

Andrew F McNiven

Joycelyn Amick

Boyd V Knott

David Rego

Edward P Garcia

Steven E Lehner

Richard Baillargeon

Todd Thessen

Kara Carter

Patrick A Tuohy

Mark Haight

Shaulaine Choo

Kurt Kilchenmann

Ian Coulson

Stephen D Pacetti

Syed F A Hossainy

Ni Ding

Scott Jason Huter

Sidney Watterodt

Andrew McNiven

Joseph J Eppert

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

Methods and devices for coating stents

An apparatus is provided for forming coatings on stents. The apparatus includes a temperature adjusting element that can increase or decrease the temperature of the stent.

Apparatus 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

Method for drying a stent

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 method for modifying a polymeric coating on an implantable medical device, such as a stent, is disclosed. The method includes application of a fluid to a wet or dry polymeric coating with and without drugs.

Fluid treatment of a polymeric coating on an implantable medical device

Devices for coating stents

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 method is provided for forming coatings on stents. The method comprises applying a coating composition to the stent; followed by terminating the application of the coating composition; followed by inserting a temperature adjusting element within the longitudinal bore of the stent to change the temperature of the stent.

Method and device for aligning a stent with a stent support

A system, method and computer product track a stent characteristic during a coating process. For example, a method comprises receiving an implantable medical device from a coating apparatus, after the coating apparatus has applied a coating to the implantable medical device; measuring a characteristic of the implantable medical device with the coating; determining if the characteristic of the implantable medical device with the coating is within selected parameters; and generating feedback to the coating apparatus based on the determining, the feedback informing the coating apparatus to adjust a variable for future coatings, if so determined.

System and computer-based method for tracking an implantable medical device characteristic during a coating process

An apparatus and method is provided for forming coatings on stents. The apparatus includes a temperature adjusting element that can increase or decrease the temperature of the stent. The apparatus can support a stent during the application of a coating composition to the stent. The apparatus can include a mandrel to support a stent and a temperature element integrated with the mandrel to adjust the temperature of the mandrel. The temperature element can include a heating coil or a heating pin, for example, disposed in the mandrel.

Apparatus and method for coating stents

Growing community of inventors

Murrieta, CA, United States of America

Thomas David Esbeck