Stent mandrel fixture and method for selectively coating surfaces of a stent

• US 7,198,675 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Harold, Nathan, Fox, Jason, Tochterman, Andrew, Templin, Barry
• Primary Examiner(s): EDWARDS, LAURA ESTELLE
• Application Number:
  US10/676,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20050069630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 118/500, 118/504, 118/505, 427/2.24, 427/2.25, 427/2.28, 427/2.3, 623/1.46, 623/1.47, 623/1.48, 623/1.1, 606/192, 606/198, 606/194, 606/108
• US Class Current: 118/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/915 with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0008 for adjusting a position by translation along an axis or two perpendicular axes
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/26 for masking cavities
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/0228 the movement of the objects being rotative B05B13/0242 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 3/18 only one side of the work coming into contact with the liquid or other fluent material B05C3/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/002 the substrate being rotated
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/32 using means for protecting parts of a surface not to be coated, e.g. using stencils, resists

Abstract

A stent mandrel fixture for supporting a stent during the application of a coating substance is provided. A method supporting a stent during the application of a coating substance is also provided.

Claims

1. A stent support for supporting a stent during the application of a coating composition to the stent, comprising:

a hollow tubular member configured to be inserted into a longitudinal bore of a stent;

a rod extending through the tubular member; and

a mechanism to cause the tubular member to expand and retract to support the stent during the application of a coating composition to the stent, wherein one end of the tubular member is attached to the rod and an opposing end of the tubular member is capable of being pushed by the mechanism towards the end of the tubular member attached to the rod, the mechanism being configured to push the opposing end of the tubular member to cause the tubular member to be laterally compressed and expand outwardly to engage an inner surface of the stent wherein the hollow tubular member is attached to the rod so as to define an enclosed space between the rod and the tubular member in which a fluid or gas can be supplied and contained, and wherein the mechanism comprises a pump for supplying a fluid or a gas into the space to expand the tubular member.

2. The support of claim 1, wherein the stent includes a frame structure having gaped regions, and wherein the hollow tubular member is configured to extend at least partially through the gaped regions.

3. A stent mandrel support, comprising:

a masking element configured to be inserted through a bore of a stent, the masking element having an expanded configuration and a retracted configuration; and

an expansion causing mechanism capable of expanding the masking element from the retracted configuration to the expanded configuration to cause the masking element to make contact with and mask an inner surface of the stent, wherein the expansion causing mechanism comprises

a hollow rod in fluid communication with the masking element;

a source for supplying a gas or fluid into the hollow rod to cause the masking element to expand;

a rod supporting the masking element; and

a lock member on the rod, the lock member acting to prevent lateral movement of the masking element.

4. The support of claim 3, wherein the expansion causing mechanism further comprises a gas or fluid line from the source in communication with the masking element.

5. The support of claim 3, wherein the expansion causing mechanism further comprises a pneumatic or hydraulic mechanism.

6. The support of claim 3, additionally including a coupler to allow the hollow rod to rotate while the source is kept in a stationary position.

7. A stent mandrel support, comprising:

a masking element configured to be inserted through a bore of a stent, the masking element having an expanded configuration and a retracted configuration; and

an expansion causing mechanism capable of expanding the masking element from the retracted configuration to the expanded configuration to cause the masking element to make contact with and mask an inner surface of the stent, wherein the expansion causing mechanism comprises

a first member;

a second member extending out from the first member, such that the masking element is positioned over the second member, the masking element having one end secured to the second member and an opposing end secured to the first member; and

a toggle switch to drive the second member into the first member which causes lateral compression and radial expansion of the masking element.