Abstract: A method and device for coating a medical device, such as a stent, including forming coating droplets using a mesh nebulizer and transporting the coating droplets to the medical device, for example through a converging chamber. The coating droplets may be accelerated to a speed sufficient to break the coating droplets into smaller droplets upon impact with the medical device. The mesh nebulizer may have a convex inlet side and may form a converging plume of coating droplets. The mesh nebulizer may have one or more groups of pores, the pores within each group may be subject to similar amplitudes of vibration. The coating material may be heated or cooled prior to nebulizing. The chamber may include baffles configured to allow only a predetermined size range of coating particles to pass.

Abstract: An improved stent coating holder for application of coatings to stents is provided. In a first embodiment, a flexible wire with loops on each end is passed through the center of a stent. The loops are placed over the ends of a stent coating holder, which applies tension to the loops while spreading them radially until they contact their respective stent ends. The holder thus secures the stent from longitudinal or radial movement during coating and minimizes holder-induced uneven distribution of coating material on the stent. In a second embodiment, a center rod is passed through the stent, which is held at its ends by lower and upper crossbars affixed respectively to the center rod and to a center rod guide. A locking pin inserted through the center rod and guide tube fixes the stent between the crossbars, precluding stent movement during coating and minimizing holder shadowing.