In-line bubble removal mechanism

• US 8,852,668 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2011
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Hung T., Mueller, Scott, Farnbach, Ronald, Papp, John, Gillick, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): SELLMAN, CACHET I
• Application Number:
  US13/039,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20120225186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 427/2.24
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/085 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/02 performed by spraying

Abstract

A mechanism for preventing or inhibiting bubbles of dissolved gasses from outgassing due to phase change phenomenon of the pressure differential inside a liquid-filled incompressible line can be provided. This mechanism may be useful in a variety of applications, such as coating of stents and scaffolds.

Claims

1. A method of coating an implantable medical device, comprising:

supplying a solution to a pump;

pumping the solution to a check valve unit or back pressure unit;

removing gas from the solution in the check valve unit or the backpressure unit;

supplying the solution from the check valve unit or the back pressure unit to a nozzle;

atomizing the solution in the nozzle; and

directing the solution, atomized, onto an implantable medical device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplying the solution to the pump comprises supplying the solution from a reservoir containing a volatile solvent with (a) a polymer and/or (b) a drug.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the supplying the solution from the reservoir comprises supplying the solution via a plastic tube having a diameter in the range from 1/16 inch to ½

inch.

4. The method claim 1, wherein the removing the gas from the solution in the check valve unit comprises passing the solution through a ball check or duckbill valve.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein pressurized solution is transferred from the pump to the check valve unit or back pressure unit through a transfer tube.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein pumping the solution comprises pumping using a positive displacement pump.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplying the solution to the nozzle comprises supplying the solution via a plastic tube having a diameter in the range from 1/32 inch to ¼

inch.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

atomizing, in the nozzle, using an external atomizer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the solution comprises a volatile solvent, drug, and polymer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device comprises a stent and/or a balloon of a catheter assembly.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein

the solution is pumped to a check valve unit, and

the gas is removed from the solution in the check valve unit.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein

the solution is pumped to a back pressure unit, and

the gas is removed from the solution in the back pressure unit.