Process for coating stents
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorsSyed F. A. Hossainy, Mark B. Roller, Gerard H. Llanos, Gregory A. Kopia
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Abstract
A process is provided for coating stents having a first and second surface with passages there between to avoid blockage and bridging of the passages. The process comprises contacting the stent with a liquid coating solution containing a film forming biocompatible polymer under conditions suitable to allow the film forming biocompatible polymer to coat at least one surface of the stent while maintaining a fluid flow through said passages sufficient prevent the film forming biocompatible polymer from substantially blocking said passages. Also described are stents coated by this process.
Claims38
A method for coating a stent having an outer surface and inner surface with passages between the outer surface and inner surfaces comprising:
- (a) contacting the stent with a liquid coating solution containing a film forming biocompatible polymer under conditions suitable to allow the film forming biocompatible polymer to coat at least one surface of the stent;
- (b) before the coating solution dries creating fluid movement out of the passages of the stent sufficient to prevent the film forming biocompatible polymers from substantially blocking said passages thereafter;
- (c) drying the stent to provide at least a partially coated stent with a first coating
- wherein said fluid movement is created by contacting a mandrel with the inner surface of the stent and moving the mandrel relative to the stent to prevent bridges from forming in said passages.
A method for coating a tubular stent having a first surface and second surface with passages between the first surface and second surfaces comprising;
- (a) placing the tubular stent on a mandrel;
- then
- (b) contacting the stent and mandrel with a liquid coating solution containing a film forming biocompatible polymer under conditions suitable to allow the film forming biocompatible polymer to coat at least one surface of the stent while moving the stent relative to the mandrel to cause fluid flow through said passages sufficient to prevent the film forming biocompatible polymer from substantially blocking said passages;
- thereafter
- (c) drying the stent to provide at least a partially coated tubular stent with a first coating.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.