Patent ID: 7037552
Filing Date: 2006-05-02
Classification: A61F,A61L,B05B

Abstract:
1. A method for applying a coating to a stent comprising the steps of: providing a stent to be coated, the stent comprising a plurality of struts connected at a plurality of junctions; supporting the stent for coating; placing a first agent into a first chamber connected to a first solenoid fluid dispensing head; placing the first agent under pressure such that the first agent is dispensed from the first solenoid dispensing head when the first solenoid dispensing head is open and the first agent is not dispensed from the first solenoid dispensing head when the first solenoid dispensing head is closed; providing a processor to control the opening and closing of the first solenoid valve dispensing head; rotating the stent with respect to the first solenoid fluid dispensing head; opening the first solenoid fluid dispensing head when a strut of the stent that is desired to be coated with the first agent is adjacent the first solenoid fluid dispensing head, thereby causing the first agent to be dispensed from the first solenoid fluid dispensing head onto the desired strut of the stent; and closing the first solenoid fluid dispensing head when a junction of the stent is adjacent the first solenoid fluid dispensing head, thereby preventing the pressurized first agent from being dispensed from the first solenoid fluid dispensing head onto the junction.