Apparatus and method for selectively coating a medical article

• US 7,638,156 B1
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Kleine, Klaus, Hossainy, Syed F. A., Sridharan, Srinivasan, Stewart, Gordon, Kokish, Arkady, Serna, Benjamyn, Svensson, Bjorn G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOWMAN, ANDREW J
• Application Number:
  US11/312,149
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: 428/34.1, 435/6, 623/1.13
• US Class Current: 427/2.1
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/20 Masking elements, i.e. elements defining uncoated areas on an object to be coated
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/0442 Installation or apparatus for applying liquid or other fluent material to separate articles rotated during spraying operation
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/02 performed by spraying
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/32 using means for protecting parts of a surface not to be coated, e.g. using stencils, resists
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/13 Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]

Abstract

Masking apparatus and methods of masking a medical article, such as stent, for selective application of a coating composition on the article are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of selectively coating a stent, comprising:

positioning a mask between a stent and a dispenser, the mask comprising a mask body including a negative pattern or an approximate negative pattern of a stent pattern being masked by the mask body; and

applying a coating composition by the dispenser to the stent.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mask body includes openings separated by a masking region, such that the masking region coincides with a gap between strut elements of the stent.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mask body includes openings separated by masking regions such that at least one of the openings has the same shape or generally the same shape as a strut of the stent and wherein a masking region next to the at least one of the openings is designed to cover a gap positioned next to the strut of the stent.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mask body includes a tubular shape that allows for the stent to be inserted into the mask body.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mask body includes a tubular shape that allows the mask body to be inserted into a longitudinal bore of the stent.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the mask includes a hollow tubular body in which the stent is placed, and the method additionally comprising rotating the mask and the stent at the same rpm.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein an opening of the mask body has the same or generally the same shape as a stent strut.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the mask between the stent and the dispenser includes positioning the mask inside the stent.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the mask between the stent and the dispenser includes positioning the mask outside the stent.