Surface treatment method for stent coating
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorsDachuan Yang, Carmen Jacob, Lixiao Wang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method is provided for eliminating surface imperfections on a medical device having a drug release coating including a therapeutic substance in a polymeric carrier disposed on at least a portion of the medical device. The medical device is preferably a stent including wire-like members interconnected to form struts with open interstices therebetween. A therapeutic substance incorporate into a polymeric carrier is disposed on the surface of the stent through which process imperfections including polymeric fibers, polymeric particles or other polymeric surface aberrations or imperfections are formed. This imperfections are eliminated by contacting the polymeric coating with a vaporized solvent for a specified period of time.
Claims25
A method for eliminating polymeric fibers, polymeric particles or other polymeric surface aberrations or imperfections from a polymeric coating on a medical device, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a medical device having a surface generally defined by a skeletal frame having spaces therebetween, wherein at least a portion of said surface is coated with a polymeric material, some of said polymeric material extending across said spaces;
- and,
- contacting said polymeric coating with a vaporized solvent, thereby eliminating said polymeric material extending across said spaces.
A method of coating a medical device with a polymeric material wherein said coating is generally free of polymeric strands, polymeric particles or other polymeric surface aberrations, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a medical device having a surface generally defined by a plurality of interconnected stunts with open interstitial spaces therebetween,
- coating at least a portion of said surface with a polymeric material in a solvent carrier;
- drying said polymeric material by evaporating at least a portion of said solvent carrier to form a dried polymeric coating, wherein some of said dried polymeric material extends across said interstitial spaces;
- and,
- contacting said dried polymeric coating with a vaporized solvent, thereby eliminating said polymeric material extending across said interstitial spaces.
A method for coating a stent with a polymeric material having a therapeutic substance dispersed therein for timed release of said therapeutic substance when said stent is implanted wherein said coating is generally free of polymeric strands, polymeric particles or other polymeric surface aberrations, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a stent having a surface generally defined by a plurality of interconnected struts with open interstitial spaces therebetween;
- coating at least a portion of said surface with a polymeric material in a solvent carrier;
- drying said polymeric material by evaporating at least a portion of said solvent carrier to form a dried polymeric coating, wherein some of said dried polymeric material extends across said interstitial spaces;
- and,
- contacting said dried polymeric coating with a vaporized solvent, thereby eliminating said polymeric material extending across said interstitial spaces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.