Method of coating implantable medical devices

• US 7,601,384 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2006
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Hossainy, Syed F. A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meeks; Timothy H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sellman; Cachet I
• Application Number:
  US11/509,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20060286287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 427/2.1, 427/2.24
• US Class Current: 427/2.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/0228 the movement of the objects being rotative B05B13/0242 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/001 incorporating means for heating or cooling, e.g. the material to be sprayed
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/1014 with a spraying edge, e.g. like a cup or a bell
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 118/16 Slinger type

Abstract

A method of coating a medical device, such as a stent is provided. The method can include forming a polymer layer containing a drug on the device, applying a polymer melt free from any solvents to the polymer layer to form a topcoat layer, wherein the during the application of the polymer melt the migration of the drug from the polymer layer is prevented or significantly minimized.

Claims

1. A method for coating an implantable medical device, comprising forming a polymer layer containing a drug on the device, and applying a melt to the polymer layer to form a topcoat layer, the melt including a polymer and a minimal amount of solvent(s) that is less than 20% of the total volume of the melt such that during the application of the melt, migration of the drug from the polymer layer into the topcoat layer is prevented or significantly minimized, wherein the melt is not completely free of the solvent(s).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the minimal amount of solvent(s) is less than 15% of the total volume of the melt.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the minimal amount of solvent(s) is less than 10% of the total volume of the melt.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the minimal amount of solvent(s) is less than 5% of the total volume of the melt.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the minimal amount of solvent(s) is less than 1% of the total volume of the melt.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a stent.

6. A method for coating an implantable medical device, comprising forming a polymer layer containing a drug on the device, and applying a polymer composition in a liquid state to the polymer layer to form a topcoat layer, the polymer composition including a polymer and a minimal amount of solvent(s) that is less than 20% of the total volume of the polymer composition such that, during the application of the topcoat layer, migration of the drug from the polymer layer into the topcoat layer is prevented or significantly minimized, wherein the polymer composition is not completely free of the solvent(s).

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the temperature of the polymer composition in the liquid state is equal to or greater than the melting temperature of the polymer of the polymer composition.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the device is a stent.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the minimal amount of solvent(s) is less than 15% of the total volume of the polymer composition.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the minimal amount of solvent(s) is less than 10% of the total volume of the polymer composition.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the minimal amount of solvent(s) is less than 5% of the total volume of the polymer composition.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the minimal amount of solvent(s) is less than 1% of the total volume of the polymer composition.