Abstract: Methods of fabricating a stent and a stent having selected morphology on abluminal and luminal surfaces of the stent are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a porous coating with structures in the micro or nano-size domain characterized by the following steps: —providing a support having a surface, —depositing on said surface one mono-layer of temporary particles, —depositing a coating on said temporary particles in such a way that the thickness of said coating is less than the particle diameter, —eliminating said temporary particles and thereby obtaining a porous coating, the pores of said coating corresponding to the spaces previously occupied by the temporary particles and at least a part of the pores communicating with the external environment, —applying a coating fixation step, characterized by the fact that said temporary particles are deposited on said surface in such a way that, after particle deposition, more than 50% of the temporary particles are in contact with a maximum of two adjacent particles and otherwise are separated by an empty space.

Abstract: A method to coat a substrate for the formation of coatings having a desired surface morphology is provided, wherein the roughness and the total surface area of the coating can be varied during the coating process. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of generating droplets from a coating composition, transporting the droplets to the substrate and depositing a majority of the droplets on the substrate.

Abstract: A sleeve is positioned over a radially-expandable rod assembly and a stent is positioned over the sleeve. A mandrel is inserted into the rod assembly to thereby press the sleeve against the inner surface of the stent and expand the stent. A coating (such as a solvent, a polymer and/or a therapeutic substance) is then applied to the outer (abluminal) surfaces of the stent, by spraying, for example. The sleeve advantageously prevents the coating material from being applied to inner (luminal) surfaces of the stent and also allows the coating material to be efficiently applied to the abluminal surfaces.

Abstract: A system, nozzle assembly, and method for coating a stent with a solvent and polymer are provided. The polymer can include a therapeutic substance or a drug. The polymer and solvent can be discharged from separate tubes disposed within another tube carrying moving air. The polymer and the solvent mix together when they are discharged and are atomized by the air. The ends of the tubes can be concentric with each other.

Abstract: With abluminal side of a stent masked, the luminal side of the stent is selectively coated with a substance, such as an anti-coagulant, a platelet inhibitor and/or a pro-healing substance. The stent can be masked by inserting it into a rigid mandrel chamber or by compressing a masking sleeve onto the outer side of the stent. A spray nozzle inserted into the masked stent spray coats the substance onto the luminal side. The sprayed coating can be cured onto the stent such as by inserting an electrical-resistance heater bar into the stent.

Abstract: A method of applying to a metal surface a composition and drying the surface for crosslinking, which composition comprises a dispersion in the solvent of a compound comprising the reaction product of (1) a polyamine in which a plurality of amine groups are bonded to at least one radical comprising alkylene or arylene groups that separate the polyamine nitrogen atoms by at least four intermediate atoms in a chain, and (2) a silane which carries a plurality of silicon-bonded hydrolysable groups, and a silicon-bonded organic group that is covalently reactive with and which bonds with an amine group, to provide a reaction product molecule which comprises an average of at least about 2.5 of said silane groups per molecule. Some of these materials show superior advantage as a paint primer and some provide excellent corrosion resistance.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating stents and a method of using the same is provided. The apparatus includes a first stent support and a second stent support for supporting stents. The first and second stent supports are positioned with respect to one another in an adjacent serial configuration such that one end of the first stent support extends from an end of the adjacent second stent support. A motor can be coupled to the first stent support to rotate the first stent support such that the rotation of the first stent support rotates the second stent support. The apparatus further includes an applicator for applying a coating composition to the stents.

Abstract: Thermal spray processing and cold spray processing are utilized to manufacture porous starting materials (such as tube stock, wire and substrate sheets) from biocompatible metals, metal alloys, ceramics and polymers that may be further processed into porous medical devices, such as stents. The spray processes are also used to form porous coatings on consolidated biocompatible medical devices. The porous substrates and coatings may be used as a reservoir to hold a drug or therapeutic agent for elution in the body. The spray-formed porous substrates and coatings may be functionally graded to allow direct control of drug elution without an additional polymer topcoat. The spray processes are also used to apply the drug or agent to the porous substrate or coating when drug or agent is robust enough to withstand the temperatures and velocities of the spray process with minimal degradation.

Abstract: A heat transfer label, a method of manufacturing a heat transfer label and a method of labeling untreated or minimally treated polyethylene, polypropylene polymers and polyethylene-polypropylene copolymer containers and sheets that are at room temperature or heated up to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, entail providing a heat transfer label that includes a support portion and a transfer portion over the support portion for transfer of the transfer portion from the support portion to the article upon application of heat to the support portion while the transfer portion is placed in contact with the article. The transfer portion comprises a single or multiple color design. The transfer portion then is transferred from the support portion to the article.

Abstract: A stent mandrel fixture for supporting a stent during the application of a coating substance is provided.

Abstract: The use of a pressure sensitive adhesive possessing anisotropic properties for producing punched products.

Abstract: An elongate medical device including a coating extending over a portion of the elongate medical device having a plurality of apertures formed thereon and a method of applying a coating to such an elongate medical device are disclosed. Prior to applying a coating to the elongate medical device, a removable liquid is dispensed in the plurality of apertures. Subsequently, the removable liquid is removed from the plurality of apertures, leaving the plurality of apertures free of, unobstructed by, or otherwise not filled with the coating.

Abstract: A cardiac valve prosthesis having a frame and two or more leaflets (preferably three) attached to the frame. The leaflets are attached to the frame between posts, with a free edge which can seal the leaflets together when the valve is closed under back pressure. The leaflets are created in a mathematically defined shape allowing good wash-out of the whole leaflet orifice, including the area close to the frame posts, thereby relieving the problem of thrombus deposition under clinical implant conditions.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a medical wire includes manufacturing a fluororesin-coated wire and irradiating with infrared radiation. The fluororesin-coated wire is manufactured with a fluororesin-containing liquid, or fluororesin powder body being applied to the outer circumference of a superelastic alloy wire or of a resin-coated superelastic alloy wire. The fluororesin-coated wire is irradiated with a defined wavelength of infrared radiation for a defined period of time.

Abstract: Coatings for stents that include a polymer and a drug are provided. A method of forming the coatings is also provided.

Abstract: A stent includes a stent framework and a coating disposed on the stent framework. The coating includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The coating has a circumferential therapeutic concentration zone near the inner surface and a circumferential washed zone near the outer surface.

Abstract: A coated implantable medical device 10 includes a structure 12 adapted for introduction into the vascular system, esophagus, trachea, colon, biliary tract, or urinary tract; at least one coating layer 16 posited on one surface of the structure; and at least one layer 18 of a bioactive material posited on at least a portion of the coating layer 16, wherein the coating layer 16 provides for the controlled release of the bioactive material from the coating layer. In addition, at least one porous layer 20 can be posited over the bioactive material layer 18, wherein the porous layer includes a polymer and provides for the controlled release of the bioactive material therethrough. Preferably, the structure 12 is a coronary stent. The porous layer 20 includes a polymer applied preferably by vapor or plasma deposition and provides for a controlled release of the bioactive material.

Abstract: A process to produce dense nanocrystalline composites such as ceramic bodies, coatings and multi-layered devices with uniform microstructure is disclosed. The invention utilizes sol-gel solutions to reduce agglomeration of nanocrystalline powders in the production of “green bodies” or intermediate products. This novel use of sol-gel solutions also reduces grain growth and porosity in products during sintering. In finished products, final grain sizes are typically less than 100 nm with densities of the final products approaching 99.5% of theoretical densities. In addition, sintering temperatures required are lower than those in conventional methods, typically less than 1,100° C. While FIG. 1 shows one application of this novel process, this invention has wide application in the manufacture of many other products, particularly for composite coatings and in the production of nanodevices.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an implantable medical device, such as a drug eluting stent, is disclosed. The method includes subjecting an implantable medical device that includes a polymer to a thermal condition. The thermal condition can result in reduction of the rate of release of an active agent from the device subsequent to the implantation of the device and/or improve the mechanical properties of a polymeric coating on the device.