# US 7,407,551 B2 · Mechanical and acoustical suspension coating of medical implants > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,407,551 B2 - Document ID: US7407551B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/699,771 - Filed: 2003-11-04 - Published: 2004-05-13 - Granted: 2008-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 1999-04-19 - Assignees: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. - Inventors: Marlene C. Schwarz; Stanley Tocker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7407551B2 ## CPC - B05B 13/0221: {characterised by the means for moving or conveying the objects or other work, e.g. conveyor belts (B05B13/0207 takes precedence; conveyors in general B65G)} - A61L 27/34: Macromolecular materials - A61L 27/54: Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances {(A61L27/227 takes precedence)} - A61L 29/085: {Macromolecular materials} - A61L 29/16: Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances {(A61L29/048 takes precedence)} - A61L 31/10: Macromolecular materials - A61L 31/16: Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances {(A61L31/047 takes precedence)} - B05B 13/02: Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work (B05B13/06 takes precedence) - B05B 13/025: {the objects or work being present in bulk} - B05B 13/0257: {in a moving container, e.g. a rotatable foraminous drum} - B05C 13/00: Means for manipulating or holding work, e.g. for separate articles {(B05C1/0821 takes precedence)} - B05D 1/22: using fluidised-bed technique (fluidised-bed technique in general B01J8/24) - A61L 2300/606: Coatings - Y10S 118/05: Fluidized bed - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - B05C: APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (spraying apparatus, atomising apparatus, nozzles B05B; plant for applying liquids or other fluent materials to objects by electrostatic spraying B05B5/08) - B05D: PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (conveying articles or workpieces through baths of liquid B65G, e.g. B65G49/02) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract The present invention has several plausible embodiments. In one embodiment an apparatus for coating a medical device is provided. This apparatus includes a coating chamber, a vibrating structure within the coating chamber the vibrating structure capable of suspending a medical device positioned in the coating chamber, and a coating source, the coating source positioned to introduce coating into the coating chamber. In another embodiment a method of coating a medical device is provided. This method includes moving a medical device into a predetermined coating area, vibrating a structure below the medical device, the vibration of the structure forcing the medical device away from the vibrating structure, and coating at least a portion of the medical device that has moved away from the vibrating structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A coating system comprising: a coating chamber; a cage for supporting a medical device to be coated, the cage positioned in the coating chamber; a vibration source having a diaphragm exposed to the coating chamber, the vibration source configured to generate pressure waves sufficient to suspend the cage positioned in the coating chamber above the vibration source without the vibration source contacting the cage; and a coating source, the coating source positioned to introduce coating into the coating chamber wherein the vibration source is positioned below a screen and wherein the source of coating contains a therapeutic. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising a coating filter coupled to the coating chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the vibration source is exposed to the coating chamber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the coating source contains a coating that covers a surface of a medical device positioned in the coating chamber after the medical device is removed from the coating chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the coating chamber contains a medical device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5 wherein the medical device is a stent. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the coating chamber contains a plurality of medical devices. ### Claim 8 A coating system comprising: a coating chamber; a cage for supporting a medical device to be coated, the cage positioned in the coating chamber; a vibration source having a diaphragm exposed to the coating chamber, the vibration source configured to generate pressure waves sufficient to suspend the cage positioned in the coating chamber above the vibration source without the vibration source contacting the cage; and a coating source, the coating source positioned to introduce coating into the coating chamber wherein the coating source is positioned above a screen in the coating chamber. ### Claim 9 An apparatus for coating a medical implant comprising: a coating chamber; a vibration source, the vibration source adapted to suspend an implantable medical device positioned in the coating chamber above the vibration source; and a coating source, the coating source configured to introduce coating into the coating chamber; wherein the coating source includes a nozzle coupled to a supply of coating, wherein the vibration source has a vibrating structure positioned within the coating chamber, the vibrating structure having an exposed side, wherein the exposed side has a space between it and the coating chamber and wherein the nozzle is positioned beneath the vibrating structure. ### Claim 10 An apparatus for coating a medical implant comprising: a coating area adapted to receive medical implants for implantation within the body of a patient; means for supplying a therapeutic coating into the coating area; and means for suspending the medical implants in the coating area during the coating process; wherein the means for suspending the medical implants in the coating area during the coating process comprises a vibration structure and a nozzle, and wherein the vibrating structure has an exposed side, wherein the exposed side has a space between it and the coating area.