US 20030185964A1
(19) United States
(12) Patent Application Publication (io) Pub. No.: US 2003/0185964 Al
Weber et al. (43) Pub. Date: Oct. 2,2003
(54) METHOD FOR SPRAY-COATING A
MEDICAL DEVICE HAVING A TUBULAR
WALL SUCH AS A STENT
(76) Inventors: Jan Weber, Maple Grove, MN (US);
Gordon John Kocur, Lino Lakes, MN
(US)
Correspondence Address:
PENNIE AND EDMONDS
1155 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK, NY 100362711
(21) Appl. No.: 10/109,073
(22) Filed: Mar. 28, 2002
Publication Classification (51) Int. CI.7 B05D 3/00; A61L 2/00
(52) U.S. C I 427 2.25
(57) ABSTRACT
A method for electrostatic spray-coating a medical device having a tubular wall, such as a stent, having an inner surface, an outer surface and openings therein. The tubular wall is grounded or electrically charged, and an electrically charged conductive core wire is located axially through the center of the stent. An electrical potential is applied to the conductive core wire to impart an electrical charge to the conductive core wire. The tubular wall is exposed to an electrically charged coating formulation, and the electrically charged coating formulation is deposited onto a portion of the tubular wall to form a coating. The electrical potentials of the conductive core wire and tubular wall can be repeatedly alternated.
