Method for drying a stent
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of drying a stent, comprising:
- providing a stent in a chamber, the stent having a coating material including a polymer and a solvent applied to the stent;
directing a fluid stream at the stent to remove at least a portion of the coating material;
measuring a temperature of the fluid stream at a location adjacent to the stent; and
controlling a temperature of the fluid stream based on the measured temperature so as to maintain a desired temperature adjacent to the stent, whereinthe chamber is configured to receive the stent having the coating material including the polymer and the solvent and the chamber is adapted to receive the fluid stream that contacts the coated stent for removing at least a portion of the coating material;
a temperature sensor is adjacent to the stent for measuring a temperature of the fluid stream contacting the stent;
a controller is in communication with the sensor, wherein the controller adjusts a temperature of the fluid stream based on the measured temperature so as to maintain a desired temperature of the fluid stream contacting the stent; and
a second temperature sensor is adjacent to the stent for monitoring the temperature of the stent independent of the controller.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Various embodiments of methods and devices for coating stents are described herein.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method of drying a stent, comprising:
-
providing a stent in a chamber, the stent having a coating material including a polymer and a solvent applied to the stent; directing a fluid stream at the stent to remove at least a portion of the coating material; measuring a temperature of the fluid stream at a location adjacent to the stent; and controlling a temperature of the fluid stream based on the measured temperature so as to maintain a desired temperature adjacent to the stent, wherein the chamber is configured to receive the stent having the coating material including the polymer and the solvent and the chamber is adapted to receive the fluid stream that contacts the coated stent for removing at least a portion of the coating material; a temperature sensor is adjacent to the stent for measuring a temperature of the fluid stream contacting the stent; a controller is in communication with the sensor, wherein the controller adjusts a temperature of the fluid stream based on the measured temperature so as to maintain a desired temperature of the fluid stream contacting the stent; and a second temperature sensor is adjacent to the stent for monitoring the temperature of the stent independent of the controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A method of drying a stent, comprising:
-
providing a stent in a chamber, the stent having a coating material including a polymer and a solvent applied to the stent; directing a fluid stream at the stent to remove at least a portion of the coating material; measuring a temperature of the fluid stream at a location adjacent to the stent; and controlling a temperature of the fluid stream based on the measured temperature so as to maintain a desired temperature adjacent to the stent, wherein the chamber has an inlet for receiving the fluid stream and an outlet where the fluid stream exits, such that the stent is positioned between the inlet and the outlet on a support structure. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of drying a stent, comprising:
-
providing a stent in a chamber, the stent having a coating material including a polymer and a solvent applied to the stent; directing a fluid stream at the stent to remove at least a portion of the coating material; measuring a temperature of the fluid stream at a location adjacent to the stent; and controlling a temperature of the fluid stream based on the measured temperature so as to maintain a desired temperature adjacent to the stent, wherein a first temperature sensor is in the chamber for measuring a drying temperature of the stent and communicating the measurement to a controller for controlling the drying of the stent, and a second temperature sensor is in the chamber for measuring a drying temperature of the stent and displaying the temperature on a monitor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of drying a stent, comprising:
-
providing a stent in a chamber, the stent having a coating material including a polymer and a solvent applied to the stent; directing a fluid stream at the stent to remove at least a portion of the coating material; measuring a temperature of the fluid stream at a location adjacent to the stent; controlling a temperature of the fluid stream based on the measured temperature so as to maintain a desired temperature adjacent to the stent, the controlling of the temperature of the fluid stream comprises taking at least one temperature reading from a sensor, providing the reading to a control system such that the control system compares the reading to a selected temperature parameter, and if needed changes the temperature of the fluid stream based on the comparison made; and using a second sensor to take at least one temperature reading and displaying it on a monitor for verifying the accuracy of temperature changes made by the control system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
-
Specification