Maintaining a fixed distance by laser or sonar assisted positioning during coating of a medical device

A system for coating a balloon of a medical device, the system comprising:

• a support structure to rotatably support a balloon of a medical device;
• an applicator in fluid communication with a fluid source, the applicator having at least one outlet for applying fluid of the fluid source therefrom to form a direct coating of fluid on the surface of the balloon along a coating path, the applicator positioned with the at least one outlet proximate a surface of the balloon;
• a drive assembly to establish relative movement between the at least one outlet and the surface of the balloon to apply fluid on the surface of the balloon along the coating path;
• and
• a positioning device to determine a distance to the surface of the balloon at a corresponding location in real-time;
• and
• a controller configured to maintain a substantially fixed distance between the at least one outlet and the surface of the balloon when in alignment with the corresponding location.