Apparatus and method for depositing a coating onto a surface of a prosthesis

• US 6,395,326 B1
• Filed: 05/31/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Castro, Daniel, Chen, Li, Hossainy, Syed F. A., Wu, Steven, Scheinpflug, Kurt W., Woolbright, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beck, Shrive P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Michener, Jennifer Kolb
• Application Number:
  US09/583,371
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 427/2.24,2.25,2.28,2.3,261,286,287,256,258,8
• US Class Current: 427/2.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0068 the pharmaceutical product being in a reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/606 Coatings
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/10 Macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/16 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L31/047 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/002 the substrate being rotated
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/26 performed by applying the liquid or other fluent material from an outlet device in contact with, or almost in contact with, the surface
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/40 Distributing applied liquids or other fluent materials by members moving relatively to surface
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 3/107 Post-treatment of applied coatings

Abstract

A patterned coating on a prosthesis, for example a stent, and a method for forming the coating are disclosed. Additionally, an apparatus for forming the patterned coating is disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of forming a coating on a stent, comprising:

(a) positioning a nozzle in close proximity to or in contact with a stent, the stent having a scaffolding network including gaped regions; and

(b) moving the nozzle from a first position to a second position while maintaining the nozzle in close proximity to or in contact with the scaffolding network to deposit a coating material on at least a portion of the scaffolding network, wherein the nozzle is moved along the pattern of the scaffolding network between the first position and the second position to avoid any significant application of the coating material in the gaped regions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the stent is maintained in a stationary position.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the stent is moved in concert with the nozzle for maintaining the positioning of the nozzle along the pattern of the scaffolding network.

4. The method of claim 1, where the coating material is selected from a group of polymers, therapeutic agents, or mixtures thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, additionally including applying heat to the coating material for solidifying the coating material on the stent, wherein the heat is applied to and concentrated on the region where the coating material has been applied to the scaffolding network so as to avoid application of the heat to the other areas of the scaffolding network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the movement of the nozzle is controlled by a central processing unit.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the movement of the nozzle is controlled by a central processing unit and a feedback system for providing information about the pattern of the scaffolding network or the positioning of the nozzle to the central processing unit.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern from the first position to the second position is a non-linear path along which the nozzle is moved.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the nozzle is at an angle of less than 90 degrees to the surface of the scaffolding network.

10. The method of claim 1, additionally including adjusting the flow rate of the coating material out from the nozzle and the speed of the nozzle from the first position to the second position so as to prevent any significant overflow of the coating material off the scaffolding network.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the nozzle is capable of moving in intervals of less than 0.1 inches.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the nozzle is capable of moving in intervals of less than 0.001 inches.

13. A method of forming a coating on a stent, comprising:

(a) positioning a nozzle in close proximity to or in contact with a stent, the stent having a scaffolding network including gaped regions; and

(b) moving the stent from a first position to a second position while maintaining the scaffolding network in close proximity to or in contact with the nozzle to deposit a coating material on at least a portion of the scaffolding network, wherein the nozzle is maintained along the pattern of the scaffolding network between the first position and the second position to avoid any significant application of the coating material in the gaped regions.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the nozzle is held in a stationary position.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the nozzle is capable of rotating about the circumference of the stent.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the nozzle is capable of moving in concert with the stent for maintaining the positioning of the nozzle along the pattern of the scaffolding network.

17. The method of claim 13, where the coating material is selected from a group of polymers, therapeutic agents, or a mixture thereof.

18. The method of claim 13, additionally including applying heat to the coating material for solidifying the coating material on the stent, wherein the heat is applied to and concentrated on the region where the coating material has been applied to the scaffolding network so as to avoid application of the heat to the other areas of the scaffolding network.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the movement of the stent is controlled by a central processing unit.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the movement of the stent is controlled by a central processing unit and a feedback system for providing information about the pattern of the scaffolding network or the positioning of the nozzle to the central processing unit.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the pattern from the first position to the second position is a non-linear path.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the nozzle is at an angle of less than 90 degrees to the surface of the scaffolding network.

23. The method of claim 13, additionally including adjusting the flow rate of the coating material out from the nozzle and the speed of the movement of the stent from the first position to the second position so as to prevent any significant overflow of the coating material off the scaffolding network.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the stent is capable of being moved in intervals of less than 0.1 inches.

25. The method of claim 13, wherein the stent is capable of being moved in intervals of less than 0.001 inches.