Polymer-coated stent structure
AssigneeAdvanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
InventorJoseph P. Loeffler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The thickness of a polymer coating applied to the interior surface of a stent is precisely controlled by fitting a mandrel within its interior. Fitment of an exterior mold serves to additionally control the thickness of polymer on the exterior surface of the stent. Alternatively, a preformed sheath of polymer is fitted to the interior of the stent whereby the subsequent application of polymer not only causes the exterior to become coated but also causes the sheath to become adhered to the stent.
Claims21
A method for coating a stent, comprising the steps of:
- providing a stent having a generally cylindrical shape, said stent having an interior surface and an exterior surface;
- securely positioning a mandrel within said stent to define a space of substantially constant thickness between said mandrel and said interior surface of said stent;
- contacting said mandrel containing stent with a polymer in a flowable state;
- allowing said polymer to transform to a substantially non-flowable state;
- and
- removing said mandrel from said stent.
A method for coating a stent, comprising the steps of:
- providing a stent having a generally cylindrical shape, said stent having an interior surface and an exterior surface;
- securely positioning a mandrel within said stent to define a first space of a substantially constant first thickness between said mandrel and said interior surface of said stent;
- securely positioning said mandrel containing stent within an exterior mold to define a second space of a substantially constant second thickness between said exterior mold and said exterior surface of said stent;
- introducing a polymer in a flowable state into said first and second spaces;
- allowing said polymer to transform to a substantially non-flowable state;
- and
- removing said exterior mold from about said stent and said mandrel from within said stent.
A method of coating a stent, comprising the steps of:
- providing a stent having a generally cylindrical shape, said stent having an interior surface and an exterior surface;
- fitting a sheath preformed of a first polymer within said stent;
- contacting said stent with a second polymer in a flowable state;
- and
- allowing said second polymer to transform into a substantially non-flowable state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.