System for Coating a Tubular Implantable Medical Device

Abstract

A system for coating a tubular implantable medical device, such as a stent, can include a rotatable applicator and a rotatable support for the medical device. The axes of rotation of applicator and the support can be substantially non-parallel.

1 . A system for coating a tubular implantable medical device with a coating composition, the system comprising:
 an applicator substrate including a surface configured to receive a composition and to transfer the composition to a tubular implantable medical device; and   a mandrel configured to support the tubular implantable medical device in close proximity to or in contact with the applicator substrate.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the applicator substrate is configured to rotate about a first rotational axis, and the mandrel is configured to rotate about a second rotational axis that is not parallel to the first rotational axis. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the applicator substrate is configured to move over the mandrel in a linear direction that is substantially parallel to the second rotational axis. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the applicator substrate is configured to move over the mandrel in a linear direction, and the mandrel is configured to rotate about a rotational axis that is substantially parallel to the linear direction. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an apparatus to rotate the mandrel. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the medical device comprises a hollow, longitudinal bore and wherein the applicator substrate is further configured to fit into the hollow, longitudinal bore of the medical device. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the mandrel comprises a non-stick material. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a leveling apparatus configured to be positioned along the surface of the applicator substrate for reducing variation of composition thickness. 
   
   
       9 . A system for coating a tubular implantable medical device with a coating composition, the system comprising:
 a reservoir holding a coating composition;   an application roller configured to receive the coating composition from the reservoir; and   a support element to support a tubular implantable medical device in close proximity to or in contact with the application roller.   
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the application roller is configured to rotate about a first rotational axis, and the support element is configured to rotate about a second rotational axis that is not parallel to the first rotational axis. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the application roller is configured to move over the support element in a linear direction that is substantially parallel to the second rotational axis. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the application roller is configured to move over the support element in a linear direction, and the support element is configured to rotate about a rotational axis that is substantially parallel to the linear direction. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a metering roller in communication with the application roller. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a barrier positioned adjacent to the metering roller for removing excess composition from the metering roller. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein an outer surface of the application roller has grooves. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the reservoir is housed within the application roller, and the application roller comprises pores in an outer surface of the application roller and in communication with the reservoir such that the coating composition can flow from the reservoir and out of the pores to be disposed on the outer surface of the application roller. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a leveling member to provide a uniform thickness of the coating composition on the surface of the application roller. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a temperature controller in communication with the reservoir for heating or cooling the coating composition. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the support element is a cylindrical body configured to be inserted into a longitudinal bore of the tubular implantable medical device.