Stent coating apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A stent coating system comprising:
- a cartridge, the cartridge comprising;
an applicator device to dispense a coating, the applicator device comprising;
(a) a fluid ejection nozzle having an opening, said fluid ejection nozzle being configured to generate a negative pressure;
(b) a reservoir in fluid communication with said fluid ejection nozzle, said reservoir being configured for generating a negative pressure for preventing leakage of the coating from said fluid ejection nozzle via said opening; and
(c) a pressure wave actuating arrangement configured for generating a pressure wave in said fluid ejection nozzle, said pressure wave causing fluid displacement in said fluid ejection nozzle, thereby ejecting a droplet of the coating from said opening, said negative pressure of said fluid ejection nozzle and said negative pressure of said reservoir being configured in order that the remaining coating is drawn toward said opening to replace the coating dispensed with said droplet,wherein said reservoir and said fluid ejection nozzle are configured so as to produce an unbroken capillary flow path from said reservoir to said fluid ejection nozzle such that said fluid ejection nozzle is self-priming, wherein said reservoir is configured to maintain said negative pressure by capillary action so as to be substantially insensitive to changes in orientation of said applicator device, and wherein said pressure wave actuating arrangement includes a piezoelectric collar disposed around at least one of said fluid ejection nozzle and said reservoir; and
a reusable drive unit, the reusable drive unit being reversibly connected to the cartridge, the reusable drive unit configured to generate a force to move the fluid ejection nozzle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A coating system for coating a stent with a medication, the stent being mounted on a balloon on a catheter, the system having an applicator device including a fluid ejection nozzle, a reservoir and a pressure wave actuating arrangement. The nozzle has an opening configured for dispensing the medication on to the stent. The reservoir is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The nozzle and the reservoir are configured for generating a negative pressure for preventing leakage of the medication via the opening. The pressure wave actuating arrangement is configured for generating a pressure wave in the nozzle for causing fluid displacement in the nozzle, thereby ejecting a droplet of the medication from the opening. The negative pressure of the nozzle and the reservoir are configured in order that the remaining medication is drawn toward the opening to replace the medication dispensed with the droplet.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A stent coating system comprising:
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a cartridge, the cartridge comprising; an applicator device to dispense a coating, the applicator device comprising; (a) a fluid ejection nozzle having an opening, said fluid ejection nozzle being configured to generate a negative pressure; (b) a reservoir in fluid communication with said fluid ejection nozzle, said reservoir being configured for generating a negative pressure for preventing leakage of the coating from said fluid ejection nozzle via said opening; and (c) a pressure wave actuating arrangement configured for generating a pressure wave in said fluid ejection nozzle, said pressure wave causing fluid displacement in said fluid ejection nozzle, thereby ejecting a droplet of the coating from said opening, said negative pressure of said fluid ejection nozzle and said negative pressure of said reservoir being configured in order that the remaining coating is drawn toward said opening to replace the coating dispensed with said droplet, wherein said reservoir and said fluid ejection nozzle are configured so as to produce an unbroken capillary flow path from said reservoir to said fluid ejection nozzle such that said fluid ejection nozzle is self-priming, wherein said reservoir is configured to maintain said negative pressure by capillary action so as to be substantially insensitive to changes in orientation of said applicator device, and wherein said pressure wave actuating arrangement includes a piezoelectric collar disposed around at least one of said fluid ejection nozzle and said reservoir; and a reusable drive unit, the reusable drive unit being reversibly connected to the cartridge, the reusable drive unit configured to generate a force to move the fluid ejection nozzle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification