Method and system of purifying polymers for use with implantable medical devices
First Claim
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1. A method of manufacturing an implantable medical device, comprising:
- purifying a polymer by;
introducing the polymer into an extruder;
introducing a fluid into the extruder;
mixing the fluid with the polymer;
removing at least a volume of the fluid from the extruder such that an impurity is completely or at least partially removed with the fluid; and
collecting the polymer after removal of the impurity; and
coating an implantable medical device with the purified polymer, or fabricating the implantable medical device with the purified polymer;
wherein the fluid is of a type to physically entrap the impurity without dissolving the impurity or the fluid is of a type to dissolve the impurity.
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Abstract
A method and system for purifying polymers to use with medical devices, particularly for a drug eluting stent, is described.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing an implantable medical device, comprising:
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purifying a polymer by; introducing the polymer into an extruder; introducing a fluid into the extruder; mixing the fluid with the polymer; removing at least a volume of the fluid from the extruder such that an impurity is completely or at least partially removed with the fluid; and collecting the polymer after removal of the impurity; and coating an implantable medical device with the purified polymer, or fabricating the implantable medical device with the purified polymer; wherein the fluid is of a type to physically entrap the impurity without dissolving the impurity or the fluid is of a type to dissolve the impurity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of manufacturing a coating for an implantable medical device, comprising:
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(a) purifying a thermoplastic polymer, the purifying including introducing the polymer into an extruder, introducing a fluid into the extruder, mixing the fluid with the polymer, removing at least a portion of the fluid and an impurity from the extruder, and collecting the polymer after removal of the impurity; and (b) applying a composition to an implantable medical device, the composition including the purified polymer, a solvent and optionally a therapeutic agent; wherein the fluid is of a type to physically entrap the impurity without dissolving the impurity or the fluid is of a type to dissolve the impurity. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of manufacturing an implantable medical device, comprising:
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purifying a polymer by; introducing the polymer into an extruder; introducing a fluid into the extruder, the fluid selected from the group consisting of FLUX REMOVER AMS, dimethyl acetamide, dimethyl formamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, and combinations thereof; mixing the fluid with the polymer; removing at least a volume of the fluid from the extruder such that an impurity is completely or at least partially removed with the fluid; and collecting the polymer after removal of the impurity; and coating an implantable medical device with the purified polymer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of manufacturing an implantable medical device, comprising:
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purifying a polymer by; introducing the polymer into an extruder, the polymer having an impurity; introducing a first fluid into the extruder, the first fluid acting as a solvent for the impurity; mixing the first fluid with the polymer; removing at least a volume of the first fluid from the extruder such that the impurity is at least partially removed with the first fluid; introducing a second fluid into the extruder, the second fluid acting as a non-solvent for the impurity; mixing the second fluid with the polymer; removing at least a volume of the second fluid from the extruder such that the impurity is at least partially removed with the second fluid; and collecting the polymer after removal of the impurity; and coating an implantable medical device with the collected polymer, or fabricating the implantable medical device with the collected polymer, wherein the second fluid is not the same as the first fluid. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification