Patents by Inventor Yung-Ming Chen

Yung-Ming Chen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Laser system and processing conditions for manufacturing bioabsorbable stents
    Patent number: 8679394
    Abstract: The present invention involves laser machining polymer substrates to form a stent with laser parameters that minimize damage to the substrate in a surface region adjacent to the machined edge surface. The wavelength and pulse width are selected for this unique application and they can be controlled to minimize the surface modifications (such as voids, cracks which are induced by the laser-material interaction) which contribute to the variation in mechanical properties with distance from the edge surface, bulk mechanical properties, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Harrington, Ryan Vaughan, Kevin Jow, William Pippey, Yung-Ming Chen
  • Methods and devices for drying coated stents
    Patent number: 8677650
    Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and devices for drying coated stents in an oven are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignees: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Sidney Watterodt, Sang joon Park, David Rego, Anthony S. Andreacchi, Yung-Ming Chen, Arnoldo M. Currlin, Antonio Garcia, Jason Van Sciver, Bryan D. Glenn, Matthew J. Gillick, John E. Papp
  • Method for Coating and Drying Multiple Stents
    Publication number: 20140057042
    Abstract: A coating and drying apparatus for the application of a coating substance to a stent and drying the stent is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Arkady Kokish, Yung-Ming Chen, Jason Van Sciver, Roberto Listek
  • Severable support for a stent and method of coating
    Patent number: 8632842
    Abstract: A stent with at least one severable supporting device and methods of coating using the same are disclosed. The severable supporting device can be an end tube or a tab attached to some portion of the stent by at least one “gate” or attachment. The end tube or tab may be part of the design of the stent when it is originally manufactured, or it may be attached to the stent in a secondary process by a biocompatible glue or solder. The end tube or tab can be used to support a stent during a coating process eliminating the need for a mandrel which would otherwise contact the stent during the coating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Yung-Ming Chen, Eric Aldenbrook
  • Method of drying bioabsorbable coating over stents
    Patent number: 8632845
    Abstract: Various embodiments of methods for coating stents are described herein. Applying a composition including polymer component and solvent to a stent substrate followed by exposing the polymer component to a temperature equal to or greater than a Tg of the polymer component is disclosed. Repeating the applying and exposing one or more times to form a coating with the result that the solvent content of the coating after the final exposing step is at a level suitable for a finished stent is further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Yung-Ming Chen, Jason Van Sciver, Syed F. A. Hossainy, Stephen D. Pacetti
  • Methods of treatment of polymeric coatings for control of agent release rates
    Publication number: 20140004250
    Abstract: The present disclosure teaches methods of controlling the release rate of agents from a polymeric matrix that include designing and creating a predetermined initial morphology (IM) profile in a polymeric matrix. The teachings indicate, inter alia, that control over the release rate of agents can provide for an improved control over the administration of agents as well as have an effect upon the mechanical integrity and absorption rate of the polymeric matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Syed F.A. Hossainy, Fuh-Wei Tang, Lothar W. Kleiner, Thierry Glauser, Yiwen Tang, Wouter E. Roorda, Stephen D. Pacetti, Gina Zhang, Yung-Ming Chen, Andrew F. McNiven, Sean A. McNiven, Brandon J. Yoe
  • Stent coating apparatus
    Patent number: 8616152
    Abstract: An apparatus for coating a stent comprises a coating solution reservoir, a stent support for carrying a stent adjacent the reservoir, transducers for generating waves through the coating solution, and a controller that controls timing at which the transducers are powered in order to eject a droplet of the coating solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Yung Ming Chen
  • System for coating a stent
    Patent number: 8534223
    Abstract: A system for forming a coating on a stent has a hub for holding a plurality of cartridges. Each cartridge has a plurality of mandrels, each mandrel capable of supporting a stent. A chamber has a drying section and a spray coating section, and is configured to receive a cartridge from the hub. An arm moves a cartridge from the hub to the chamber. A spray applicator applies a coating composition to a stent in the spray coating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Arkady Kokish, Yung-Ming Chen, Jason Van Sciver, Roberto Listek
  • Stent support devices
    Patent number: 8430057
    Abstract: A collet shaped to minimize the contact area of a stent end with a surface of the collet. The collet has an end surface for contacting a stent end that includes a raised or projecting portion and a flat or relatively flat portion. The projecting, portion has at least three segments radiating from a center to the edge of the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan E. Guerriero, Yung-Ming Chen, Celenia Gutierrez, Ian J. Coulson, Nathan Harold, Andrew Tochterman
  • Dryers For Removing Solvent From A Drug-Eluting Coating Applied To Medical Devices
    Publication number: 20130071549
    Abstract: A coating device for coating a medical device with a drug-eluting material uses an in-process drying station between coats to improve a drug release profile. The drying station includes a dryer having a telescoping plenum which provides a drying chamber for the stent or scaffold to reside while a heated gas is passed over the stent/scaffold. The drying chamber improves efficiency in drying, predictability or drug release rate, uniformity of coating material properties lengthwise over the stent/scaffold and provides a platform that can effectively support stents that are over 40 mm in length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Yung-Ming Chen, Matthew J. Gillick, Michael T. Martins, John E. Papp
  • Coating abluminal surfaces of stents and other implantable medical devices
    Patent number: 8387553
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Yung Ming Chen, Jeff H. Smith, Celenia Gutierrez
  • Multiple Scaffold Design And Coating Thereof
    Publication number: 20130035753
    Abstract: A multiple stent structure including a plurality of stent bodies arranged end to end in which adjacent stent bodies of the structure are connected by a severable connecting portion disposed between the adjacent stent bodies is disclosed. A method of coating a plurality of stents including depositing a coating on the multiple stent structure and severing the severable connecting portions to disconnect the plurality of stent bodies is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Yung-Ming Chen, Henjen Ho
  • Methods and apparatus for coating stents
    Patent number: 8367150
    Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and devices for coating stents are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Yung-Ming Chen, Jason Van Sciver, Antonio Garcia
  • Stent fixture and method for reducing coating defects
    Patent number: 8343568
    Abstract: A stent fixture for supporting a stent during formation of a coating is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Yung-Ming Chen, Allan Bradshaw, Philip C. Foreman, Greg Teaby
  • Stent coating method
    Patent number: 8318236
    Abstract: A stent is coated by ejecting droplets of a coating substance from a reservoir containing a coating substance. A reservoir housing can have a plurality of reservoir compartments. A transducer is used to eject the coating substance from the reservoir. Energy from the transducer is focused at a meniscus or an interface between the coating substance and another coating substance in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Van Sciver, Yung-Ming Chen, Lothar Kleiner
  • STENT COATING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20120291703
    Abstract: An apparatus for coating a stent comprises a coating solution reservoir, a stent support for carrying a stent adjacent the reservoir, transducers for generating waves through the coating solution, and a controller that controls timing at which the transducers are powered in order to eject a droplet of the coating solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Yung Ming Chen
  • Coating abluminal surfaces of stents and other implantable medical devices
    Patent number: 8312838
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Yung Ming Chen, Jeff H. Smith, Celenia Gutierrez
  • Stent coating method
    Patent number: 8282980
    Abstract: A nozzle for use in a coating apparatus for the application of a coating substance to a stent is provided. Method for coating a stent can include discharging a coating composition out from a needle of a nozzle assembly, and atomizing the coating composition as the coating composition is discharged. The needle can be positioned in a chamber of the nozzle assembly, and gas can be introduced into the chamber for atomizing the coating composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Yung-Ming Chen, Stephen James Guittard, Joe Broeckert
  • Stent coating method
    Patent number: 8236369
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for coating abluminal surface of a stent is described. A method for coating a stent can include stent mounting, stent movement, and droplet excitation. A method can include applying a coating to a stent, the applying including generating waves in a coating solution to eject droplets of the coating solution from a surface of the coating solution toward the stent, the generating performed by transducers submerged in the coating solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Yung Ming Chen
  • Robotic arm for moving a stent support, and stent support gripper assembly
    Patent number: 8229702
    Abstract: An apparatus for weighing a stent includes a buffer for storing a stent support with a stent mounted thereon, a stent mounting and dismounting assembly that mounts and dismounts the stent from the stent support, a robotic arm for moving the stent support with the stent between the buffer and the stent mounting and dismounting assembly, and a scale assembly for weighing the stent. The stent mounting and dismounting assembly moves the stent into the scale assembly after the stent has been dismount from the stent support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignees: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Russell Hemphill, Andrew James McKay, Sang joon Park, Aaron Meyer Waese, Anthony S. Andreacchi, Yung-Ming Chen, Arnoldo M. Currlin, Antonio Garcia, Jason Van Sciver