Stent coating device
First Claim
1. A system for applying a coating material to a prosthesis having a topological pattern, the system comprising:
- means for scanning the topological pattern, prior to application of the coating material, and for identifying a plurality of coating locations at which the coating material is to be applied to the prosthesis;
means for calculating a plurality of coating coordinates as a function of the identified plurality of coating locations; and
means for moving a coating material applicator along a motion path with respect to the prosthesis and for causing the coating material applicator to apply the coating material to the prosthesis at substantially each point on the motion path that corresponds to one of the coating coordinates, wherein the motion path is not a function of the topological pattern.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a method and device, which is suitable for use in an operating theater just prior to implantation, for selectively applying a medical coating to an implantable medical device, for example a stent. Disclosed is a device for use with a stent deployed on a catheter balloon. The device is configured to apply a medical coating of a desired thickness to the surface of a stent only. This is done by use of a drop-on-demand inkjet printing system in association with an optical scanning device. The device is further configured so as to, if necessary, apply a plurality of layered coats, each layered coat being of a different coating material, and if appropriate, different thickness. The section of the housing in which the stent is held during the coating procedure is detachable from the housing base. The detachable housing section may be easily cleaned and re-sterilized or simply disposed or simply disposed of.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for applying a coating material to a prosthesis having a topological pattern, the system comprising:
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means for scanning the topological pattern, prior to application of the coating material, and for identifying a plurality of coating locations at which the coating material is to be applied to the prosthesis;
means for calculating a plurality of coating coordinates as a function of the identified plurality of coating locations; and
means for moving a coating material applicator along a motion path with respect to the prosthesis and for causing the coating material applicator to apply the coating material to the prosthesis at substantially each point on the motion path that corresponds to one of the coating coordinates, wherein the motion path is not a function of the topological pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for applying a coating material to a prosthesis having a pattern of identifiable features, the system comprising:
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means for pre-scanning substantially an entire surface area of said prosthesis, prior to application of the coating material, for identifying said identifiable features and for obtaining coating coordinates for said identified features; and
means for applying the coating material to a surface of the prosthesis at substantially each of said coating coordinates by moving a coating material applicator relative to the prosthesis, wherein the movement of the coating material applicator relative to the prosthesis does not substantially follow along any portion of the pattern of identifiable features. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for applying a coating material to a prosthesis having a topological pattern, the system comprising:
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means for scanning the topological pattern, prior to application of the coating material, for identifying a plurality of coating locations at which the coating material is to be applied to the prosthesis;
means for calculating a plurality of coating coordinates as a function of the identified plurality of coating locations; and
means for moving a coating material applicator and the prosthesis relative to one another to define a motion path of the coating material applicator with respect to the prosthesis and for causing the coating material applicator to apply the coating material to the prosthesis at substantially each point on the motion path that corresponds to one of the coating coordinates, wherein the motion path does not substantially follow along the topological pattern. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification