Methods and apparatuses for coating balloon catheters
First Claim
1. An apparatus for dispensing a coating solution onto a surface of a balloon of a balloon catheter, the balloon catheter having a longitudinal axis that defines a longitudinal direction along the longitudinal axis, the apparatus comprising:
- a metering dispenser connected to a dispensing tip that dispenses the coating solution onto the surface of the balloon by contact or non-contact;
a coating solution storage container that supplies the coating solution to the metering dispenser;
a movement assembly that rotates the balloon catheter about the longitudinal axis and translocates the balloon catheter, the dispensing tip, or both back and forth in the longitudinal direction; and
a controller that coordinates the dispensing of the coating solution through the metering dispenser with the rotation and translocation of the balloon catheter by the movement assembly,wherein;
the dispensing tip comprises a hub portion connected to the metering dispenser and a tip portion connected to the hub portion;
the tip portion comprises a tip opening through which the coating solution is dispensed; and
the dispensing tip further comprises a flexible tail connected to the tip portion, such that coating solution flows from the tip opening along the flexible tail to the surface of the balloon.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention relate to a method and apparatus for coating a medical device. In one embodiment, the method for preparing a substantially uniform coated medical device includes (1) preparing a coating solution comprising a solvent, a therapeutic agent, and an additive; (2) loading a metering dispenser with the coating solution; (3) rotating the medical device about the longitudinal axis of the device and/or moving the medical device along the longitudinal or transverse axis of the device; (4) dispensing the coating solution from the metering dispenser onto a surface of the medical device and flowing the coating solution on the surface of the medical device while the medical device is rotating and/or linearly moving; and (5) evaporating the solvent, forming a substantially uniform coating layer on the medical device.
410 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An apparatus for dispensing a coating solution onto a surface of a balloon of a balloon catheter, the balloon catheter having a longitudinal axis that defines a longitudinal direction along the longitudinal axis, the apparatus comprising:
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a metering dispenser connected to a dispensing tip that dispenses the coating solution onto the surface of the balloon by contact or non-contact; a coating solution storage container that supplies the coating solution to the metering dispenser; a movement assembly that rotates the balloon catheter about the longitudinal axis and translocates the balloon catheter, the dispensing tip, or both back and forth in the longitudinal direction; and a controller that coordinates the dispensing of the coating solution through the metering dispenser with the rotation and translocation of the balloon catheter by the movement assembly, wherein; the dispensing tip comprises a hub portion connected to the metering dispenser and a tip portion connected to the hub portion; the tip portion comprises a tip opening through which the coating solution is dispensed; and the dispensing tip further comprises a flexible tail connected to the tip portion, such that coating solution flows from the tip opening along the flexible tail to the surface of the balloon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification