Patent ID: 6764709
Filing Date: 2004-07-20
Classification: B05D

Abstract:
A method for manufacturing an implantable medical device having a surface adapted for exposure to body tissue of a patient, wherein at least a portion of the surface is covered with a coating having a desired amount of a biologically active material, said method comprising:(a) providing a first medical device having a surface; (b) applying to a portion of the surface of the first medical device a coating composition comprising the biologically active material in a manner such that a coating containing an amount of the biologically active material in excess of the desired amount of biologically active material is formed on the surface of the first medical device; (c) estimating the thickness of the coating by: (i) applying to at least a portion of a surface of a second implantable medical device the coating composition, in substantially the same amount and same manner that was used to form the coating on the surface of the first medical device, to form a coating on the surface of the second medical device, wherein the first and second medical devices are made of the same material and have substantially the same configurations and dimensions; (ii) ablating a portion of the coating of the second medical device with the ultraviolet (UV) laser to expose a portion of the surface of the second medical device and to create a step having a height in the coating; (iii) determining the thickness of the coating of the second medical device by measuring the height of the step using a white light interferometer; and (iv) estimating the measured thickness of the coating of the first medical device based on the thickness of the coating of the second medical device; and (d) ablating a portion of the coating of the first medical device containing the amount of biologically active material in excess of the desired amount using an ultraviolet (UV) laser.