Patent ID: 8042487

Claim:
A system for coating a stent, comprising: a nozzle adapted to deliver a coating substance; a barrier located at a position relative to the nozzle, the barrier having a first surface to face one end of the stent, a second surface to face an opposing end of the stent, a through hole extending through the first and second surfaces, the through hole having a size that allows the stent to extend through the barrier, wherein when the stent extends through the barrier, the barrier shields a first area of the stent to which the coating substance is not to be applied and does not shield a second area of the stent to which the coating substance is to be applied; and a stent support structure to hold the stent in a coating position, wherein the barrier is movable relative to the stent support structure and the stent support structure is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the stent mounted on the support structure.