Method and apparatus for coating medical implants

• US 20070031607A1
• Filed: 04/06/2006
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nicast Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nicast Ltd.
• Inventors: Bar, Eli, Dubson, Alexander, Katz-Oz, Ori
• Application Number:
  US11/398,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20070031607A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 427/458
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/08 Plant for applying liquids or other fluent materials to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/007 using an electrostatic field B05D1/02 - B05D1/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/04 involving the use of an electrostatic field B05D1/025 and B05D1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 5/0069 characterised by the spinning section, e.g. capillary tube, protrusion or pin
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 5/0084 Coating by electro-spinning, i.e. the electro-spun fibres are not removed from the collecting device but remain integral with it, e.g. coating of prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 5/18 by means of rotating spinnerets

Abstract

A method of coating a non-rotary object with an electrospun coat, the method comprising, dispensing a charged liquefied polymer through at least one dispensing element within an electric field to thereby form a jet of polymer fibers, and moving the dispensing element relative to the object so as to coat the object with the electrospun coat.

Claims

1. A method of coating a non-rotary object with an electrospun coat, the method comprising, dispensing a charged liquefied polymer through at least one dispensing element within an electric field to thereby form a jet of polymer fibers, and moving said dispensing element relative to said object so as to coat the object with the electrospun coat.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising moving said electric field synchronically with said motion of said at least one dispensing element.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said motion of said at least one dispensing element is selected so as to establish a spiral motion of said jet of said polymer fibers about the object, said spiral motion being characterized by a gradually deceasing radius.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising translationally moving the object relative to said jet of said polymer fibers so as to uniformly distribute said polymer fibers onto the object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a medicament is mixed with said charged liquefied polymer and is co-dispensed therewith through said at least one dispensing element, so as to coat the object with an electrospun medicated coat.

6. An apparatus for coating a non-rotary object with an electrospun coat, the apparatus comprising at least one dispensing element being at a potential difference relative to the object, said at least one dispensing element being capable of moving relative to said object while dispensing a charged liquefied polymer within an electric field defined by said potential difference, to thereby form a jet of polymer fibers coating the object.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said at least one dispensing element is designed and constructed such that said electric field moves synchronically with said motion of said at least one dispensing element.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said motion of said at least one dispensing element is selected so as to establish a spiral motion of said jet of said polymer fibers about the object, said spiral motion being characterized by a gradually deceasing radius.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said at least one dispensing element comprises a rotatable ring having at least one capillary.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said rotatable ring is made of a dielectric material.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said rotatable ring is made of a conductive material.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a mechanism for translationally moving the object relative to said jet of said polymer fibers so as to uniformly distribute said polymer fibers onto the object.

13. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a sprayer for distributing compact objects constituting a mendicant therein between said polymer fibers.

14. A method of treating a constricted blood vessel, the method comprising:

(a) providing a stent assembly;

(b) dispensing a charged liquefied polymer through at least one dispensing element within an electric field to thereby form a jet of polymer fibers, and moving said dispensing element relative to said stent assembly so as to coat said stent assembly with an electrospun coat; and

(c) placing said stent assembly in the constricted blood vessel.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising expanding said stent assembly so as to dilate tissues surrounding said stent assembly in a manner such that flow constriction is substantially eradicated.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising moving said electric field synchronically with said motion of said at least one dispensing element.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said motion of said at least one dispensing element is selected so as to establish a spiral motion of said jet of said polymer fibers about said stent assembly, said spiral motion being characterized by a gradually deceasing radius.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising translationally moving said stent assembly relative to said jet of said polymer fibers so as to uniformly distribute said polymer fibers onto said stent assembly.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said stent assembly is mounted on a stent delivery system.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein a medicament is mixed with said charged liquefied polymer and is co-dispensed therewith through said at least one dispensing element, so as to coat the object with an electrospun medicated coat.