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US 8,757,219 B2Granted
Suction pump and apparatus for loading material into a stent strut
AssigneeAbbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
InventorStephen D. Pacetti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for loading material into a stent strut can comprise a suction pump connected to an opening to a lumen within the stent strut. The stent strut is immersed in the material. As the suction pump draws gas out of the lumen, the material is drawn into side openings to the lumen.
Claims14
An apparatus for loading material into a stent strut, the apparatus comprising:
- a container carrying material;
- a stent disposed in the container, the stent comprising stent struts formed from a tube, the tube having a lumen, a first opening to the lumen, and at least one side opening to the lumen, the at least one side opening in contact with the material carried in the container;
- a suction pump connected to the first opening, the pump configured to suction gas out of the lumen from the first opening;
- a first sensor configured to detect whether the material is present in a first gas conduit connecting the suction pump and the first opening to the lumen;
- and
- a controller in communication with the suction pump and configured to stop or reduce suction applied to the lumen based at least on a signal from the first sensor indicating that the material is present in the first gas conduit.
3 more elements
An apparatus for loading material into a stent strut, the apparatus comprising:
- a container carrying material;
- a stent disposed in the container, the stent comprising stent struts formed from a tube, the tube having a lumen, a first opening to the lumen, and at least one side opening to the lumen, the at least one side opening in contact with the material carried in the container;
- a suction pump connected to the first opening, the pump configured to suction gas out of the lumen from the first opening;
- a sensor configured to detect whether gas bubbles are passing through a conduit connecting the suction pump and the first opening to the lumen;
- and
- a controller in communication with the suction pump and configured to stop or reduce suction applied to the lumen based at least on a signal from the sensor indicating an absence of gas bubbles passing through the conduit.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.