Rotatable support elements for stents

• US 8,637,110 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2011
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Van Sciver, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): SELLMAN, CACHET I
• Application Number:
  US13/184,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20110274822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 427/2.1, 427/2.25, 427/2.24, 427/425, 269/50, 269/57, 269/47, 118/503, 118/319
• US Class Current: 427/2.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/06 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/002 the substrate being rotated
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/02 performed by spraying
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/32 using means for protecting parts of a surface not to be coated, e.g. using stencils, resists
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 3/0413 Heating with air
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/42 Plastics B23K2103/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/50 Inorganic material, e.g. metals, not provided for in B23K2103/02 – B23K2103/26
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/10 Temperature; Pressure F26B23/026 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 3/04 the gas or vapour circulating over or surrounding the materials or objects to be dried F26B3/14 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods of coating a stent are disclosed. In one example, the method includes positioning the stent on a support element configured to support the stent while rotating the stent. The support element has at least three elongate elements converging inwardly from a proximal end to a distal end of each element to form a conical or frusto-conical shape. The support element can be configured to be positioned within an end of the stent. The stent can be pinched between the support element and a second support element. A coating composition is applied to the stent. The method can further include pulsing the support element and/or the second support element to change a contact position of the stent with respect to the support element or the second support element; rotating the support element and the second support element at two different rates; or translating the support element from a first point of contact with the stent to a second point of contact with the stent.

Claims

1. A method of coating a stent, comprising:

positioning the stent on a support element configured to support the stent while rotating the stent comprising at least three elongate elements converging inwardly from a proximal end to a distal end of each element to form a conical or frusto-conical shape, wherein the support element is configured to be positioned within an end of the stent;

applying a coating composition to the stent; and

translating the support element from a first point of contact with the stent to a second point of contact with the stem.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

positioning the three elongate elements to support the stent without passing through gaps in a stent pattern of the stent.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

supplying a radially outward force to the stent using the at least three elongate elements.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

pinching the stent between the support element and a second support element.

5. A method of coating a stent, comprising:

positioning the stent on a support element configured to support the stent while rotating the stent comprising at least three elongate elements converging inwardly from a proximal end to a distal end of each element to form a conical or frusto-conical shape, wherein the support element is configured to be positioned within an end of the stent;

pinching the stem between the support element and a second support element;

applying a coating composition to the stent; and

rotating the support element and the second support element at two different rates.

6. A method of coating a stent, comprising:

positioning the stent on a support element configured to support the stent while rotating the stent comprising at least three elongate elements converging inwardly from a proximal end to a distal end of each element to form a conical or frusto-conical shape, wherein the support element is configured to be positioned within an end of the stent;

pinching the stent between the support element and a second support element;

applying a coating composition to the stent; and

pulsing the support element and/or the second support element to change a contact position of the stent with respect to the support element or the second support element.