| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080307668 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR DRYING COATED STENTS - Various embodiments of methods and devices for drying coated stents in an oven are described herein. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20080311280 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR COATING STENTS - Various embodiments of methods and devices for coating stents are described herein. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20080311281 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COATING A STENT - A system for coating a stent includes a device for weighing a stent, a device for aligning the stent with a stent support, a device for coating the stent, a device for drying the stent, and a device for inspecting the stent. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20080312747 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR THE INSPECTION OF CYLINDERS - A system for inspecting cylinders according to various aspects of the present invention generally includes a roller assembly comprising a plurality of rollers configured to hold the cylinder. A light source illuminates the cylinder and a camera produces an image of at least a portion of the cylinder as the roller assembly rotates the cylinder about its longitudinal axis. A computer system is configured to control the roller assembly, light source, and camera and analyze the image to identify a defect associated with the cylinder. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20080312869 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING A STENT - 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. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20090035449 | Methods and Apparatus for Coating Stents - Various embodiments of methods and devices for coating stents are described herein. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090320261 | Method and Device for Aligning a Stent with a Stent Support - A method for aligning a stent with a stent support includes the steps of (1) placing a stent support and a stent mounted on the stent support in a vertically position with the stent support's first support element at a lower position and the stent support's second support element at an upper position; (2) obtaining a digital image of the stent support and stent; (3) analyzing the digital image of the stent support and stent to compute the vertical position of the stent's upper end; (4) computing a desired position of the second support element based on the position of the stent's upper end; and (5) using a positioning device to move the second support element to the desired position. The movement of the second support element causes the conical sections of the first and second support elements to engage the respective ends of the stent to center the stent around a core element of the stent support and to secure the stent in a longitudinal direction of the stent support. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100092655 | Clamp Mandrel Fixture And A Method Of Using The Same To Minimize Coating Defects - A mounting assembly for supporting a stent and a method of using the same to coat a stent is disclosed. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100183799 | Stent Coating Method And Apparatus - An apparatus includes a mandrel for supporting a stent during a composition deposition process. The mandrel includes an elongated body for insertion into a longitudinal bore of a stent. The body comprises carbide. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100323093 | Method of Drying Bioabsorbable Coating Over Stents - 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. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20110007147 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR THE INSPECTION OF STENTS - A system and method for inspecting stents can involve an inspection camera to take an image of the stent and a computer system for analyzing the image to determine the presence of any coating defects. The determination can be made by masking out a portion of the stent, identifying deviations from a strut edge, and/or highlighting features protruding from a stent external boundary defining an outer diameter. The image can be taken after a focus feedback camera determines the position of the stent. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110040394 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ALIGNING A STENT WITH A STENT SUPPORT - A system and method of aligning a stent with a stent support involves taking two images of the stent that has been placed on the stent support and determining from the two images whether the stent is aligned with the stent support. The stent can be rotated so that the two images are of different views of the stent. A computer can be configured to receive the images and to determine the whether the stent is aligned. A backlight can be used to take images of the stent in silhouette. A portion of the stent support can be re-positioned based on an image taken of the stent. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110148130 | Method and Apparatus for Weighing a Stent - 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. | 06-23-2011 |
