In-line Bubble Removal Mechanism

• US 20120225186A1
• Filed: 03/02/2011
• Published: 09/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Hung T., Papp, John, Mueller, Scott, Farnbach, Ronald, Gillick, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 8,852,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 427/2.25
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/085 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/02 performed by spraying

Abstract

A mechanism for preventing or inhibiting bubbles of dissolved gasses from outgassing due to phase change phenomenon of the pressure differential inside a liquid-filled incompressible line can be provided. This mechanism may be useful in a variety of applications, such as coating of stents and scaffolds.

Claims

1. A method of coating an implantable medical device, comprising:

supplying a solution to a degasser;

degassing the solution in the degasser;

supplying the solution, degassed, to a pump;

pumping the solution to a nozzle;

atomizing the solution in the nozzle; and

directing the solution, atomized, onto the implantable medical device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device comprises a stent and/or a balloon of a catheter assembly.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplying the solution to the degasser comprises supplying the solution from a reservoir containing a volatile solvent with (a) a polymer and/or (b) a drug.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the supplying the solution from the reservoir comprises supplying the solution via a plastic tube having a diameter in the range from 1/16 inch to ½

inch.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the degassing the solution comprises passing the solution through a semi-permeable tube.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the degassing the solution further comprises encapsulating the semi-permeable tube in a vacuum chamber and pulling a vacuum from the semi-permeable tube.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplying the solution, degassed, to the pump comprises supplying the solution via a plastic tube having a diameter in the range from 1/32 inch to ¼

inch.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein pumping the solution comprises pumping using a positive displacement pump.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplying the solution to the nozzle comprises supplying the solution via a plastic tube having a diameter in the range from 1/32 inch to ¼

inch.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

atomizing, in the nozzle, using an external atomizer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the solution comprises a volatile solvent, drug, and polymer.

12. A method of coating an implantable medical device, comprising:

inhibiting outgassing of dissolved gases due to phase change phenomenon of a pressure differential inside a liquid-filled incompressible line,

wherein the line supplies an atomizer configured to coat the implantable medical device with the liquid in the liquid-filled incompressible line.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the implantable medical device comprises a stent and/or a balloon of a catheter assembly.

14. A method of coating an implantable medical device, comprising:

supplying a solution to a pump;

pumping the solution to a check valve unit, back pressure unit, or degasser;

removing gas from the solution in the check valve unit, the back pressure unit, or the degasser;

supplying the solution from the check valve unit, the back pressure unit, or the degasser to the nozzle;

atomizing the solution in the nozzle; and

directing the solution, atomized, onto an implantable medical device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the implantable medical device comprises a stent and/or a balloon of a catheter assembly.