Patent ID: 8486482
Filing Date: 2013-07-16
Classification: A61F,A61L,A61M,B32B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of improving the adhesion of a polymer coating layer to a stent surface comprising: Providing a stent formed from a substrate polymer; Treating a polymer surface of the stent with a fluid, wherein the treating increases the roughness of the polymer surface; and Forming a coating comprising a coating polymer on the treated stent surface, the increased surface roughness enhancing the adhesion of the coating polymer to the stent surface, wherein the fluid comprises a solvent capable of dissolving the substrate polymer and absorbing moisture at the surface of the stent, wherein the treating comprises applying the fluid to the surface of the polymer which at least partially dissolves the polymer and exposing the treated stent to a phase inversion fluid to induce phase inversion, wherein the phase inversion fluid is water or an organic non-polar non-solvent that does not substantially dissolve the surface polymer, wherein the phase inversion fluid causes the dissolved surface polymer in the fluid to precipitate out of solution and causes the roughness of the stent surface to increase due to precipitation of the dissolved polymer induced by phase inversion.