Patent ID: 7823533

Claim:
A stent fixture for supporting a stent during formation of a coating, the stent having a first end and an opposed, second end and a bore extending between the first and second ends, the stent fixture comprising: a first structure having a surface; and a plurality of elongate arm elements extending as cantilevers from the surface and arranged so that the stent fixture is capable of supporting the stent when all of the plurality of arm elements are disposed proximal the first end and distal the second end, extend at least partially through the bore of the stent from the first end and at least a portion of the plurality of arm elements make direct contact with a luminal surface of the stent; wherein at least a first arm element and a second arm element of the plurality of arm elements extend from the surface at an acute angle relative to each other; and wherein the first structure is configured to support the first end of the stent and wherein the stent fixture additionally comprises a second structure configured to support the second end of the stent.