Rotatable support elements for stents
First Claim
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1. A method of coating a stent, comprising:
- rotating a stent with a first rotatable element supporting a first end of the stent and a second rotatable element supporting a second end of the stent, wherein the first element rotates at a different rate than the second element at least a portion of a time during stent coating.
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Abstract
Various embodiments of methods and devices for coating stents are described herein.
1073 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of coating a stent, comprising:
rotating a stent with a first rotatable element supporting a first end of the stent and a second rotatable element supporting a second end of the stent, wherein the first element rotates at a different rate than the second element at least a portion of a time during stent coating. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method comprising:
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rotating a stent with a first rotatable element supporting a proximal end of the stent; rotating the stent with a second rotatable element supporting a distal end of the stent, wherein the first element has the same rotation rate as the second element; and providing at least one pulse in the rotation rate of the first element during stent coating, the first element having a rotation rate different from the second element during the pulse, the pulse causing the first element to rotate relative to the stent. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of coating a stent, comprising:
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rotating a stent with a support element having at least three elongate arms converging inwardly from a proximal end to a distal end of each arm to form a conical or frusto-conical shape, the support element positioned so that the elongate arms converge inwardly within an end of the stent to support the stent; and causing the stent to ride up at least one of the three elongate arms during coating of the stent. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of coating a stent, comprising:
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positioning a support element within an end of a stent; and providing at least one translational pulse to the support element along an axis of the stent during coating of the stent whereby the at least one translational pulse causes the support element to move axially relative to the stent, wherein the at least one translational pulse causes the stent to ride upward on arms of the support element, the arms converging inward to form a conical or frusto-conical shape.
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17. A method of coating a stent, comprising:
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positioning a support element within an end of a stent; providing at least one translational pulse to the support element along an axis of the stent during coating of the stent whereby the at least one translational pulse causes the support element to move axially relative to the stent, wherein the support element is a first support element positioned within a first end of the stent; positioning a second support element within a second end of the stent; and providing at least one translational pulse to the second support element along the axis of the stent during the coating of the stent, wherein the at least one translational pulse to the second support element is provided independently of the at least one translational pulse to the first support element.
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Specification