Apparatus and methods for filling a drug eluting medical device via capillary action

A method of filling a fluid drug formulation within a lumenal space of a hollow wire having a plurality of side openings along a length thereof openings that forms a medical device, the method comprising the steps of:

• placing the medical device formed from a hollow wire having a plurality of side openings within a first chamber of an apparatus, wherein the apparatus includes a valve positioned between the first chamber and a second chamber that houses a means for wicking that is in contact with a fluid drug formulation and the valve is closed such that the first chamber and second chamber are not in fluid communication;
• opening the valve such that the first chamber and second chamber are in fluid communication;
• allowing the first and second chambers to reach solvent vapor saturation or near solvent vapor saturation;
• placing a portion of the medical device into contact with the means for wicking within the second chamber such that at least one of the plurality of side openings is in contact with the means for wicking;
• maintaining contact between the means for wicking and the selected portion of the medical device until a lumenal space defined by the hollow wire is filled with the fluid drug formulation via capillary action through the at least one of the plurality of side openings in contact with the means for wicking;
• retracting the medical device such that the portion of the medical device is no longer in contact with the means for wicking and is located within the first chamber;
• closing the valve such that the first chamber and second chamber are not in fluid communication;
• and
• reducing a solvent vapor pressure in the first chamber to evaporate a solvent of the fluid drug formulation.