Patent ID: 6645547
Filing Date: 2003-11-11
Classification: B05B,B05C

Abstract:
A coating method for selectively applying a coating to surfaces of a stent, the method applying the coating based upon optical properties of the surfaces such that the coating is applied to surfaces of the stent and is not applied to surfaces of a balloon portion of a catheter on which the stent is mounted, the surfaces of the stent being optically distinguishable from the surfaces of the balloon portion of the catheter, the coating method comprising:(a) generating relative movement between the stent and at least one optical scanning device and at least one coating applicator; (b) optically scanning at least a portion of the stent by use of said at least one optical scanning device so as to produce output indicative of the different types of surfaces of the stent and balloon portion of the catheter; (c) responding to said output by selectively activating said coating applicator, thereby applying the coating substantially only to surfaces of the stent.