Shaped Mandrel Channels Direct Coating on Stent Abluminal Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for applying drug-eluting coatings to medical devices, particularly targeting specific surfaces like the abluminal surface of stents, face challenges such as coating material adherence issues and inefficient coating distribution, leading to defects and uneven coverage.
Innovation Solution
A coating apparatus featuring a mandrel with parallel channels and a spray head that generates a narrow spray stream, allowing precise control over coating deposition, with the mandrel's channels directing material away from luminal and transverse surfaces and concentrating it on the abluminal surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a spray coating method is used to apply coating material to a medical device, then coating application is simplified, but coating material deposits on non-target surfaces (luminal and transverse surfaces) causing unwanted coverage and defects
Solution Approach 1:
The mandrel is segmented into multiple channels (first channel, second channel, third channel) that spatially separate and direct coating material to different target surfaces. This segmentation allows the coating material to be delivered precisely to specific surfaces (abluminal surface) while preventing deposition on non-target surfaces, resolving the contradiction between simple spray application and precise coating placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The mandrel acts as an intermediary device between the spray coating system and the medical device substrate. It intercepts the spray coating material and redirects it through its channels to the intended target surfaces, preventing direct deposition on non-target surfaces while maintaining the simplicity of the spray application method.
2Manufacturing precision
If coating material is applied broadly to ensure coverage, then coverage completeness improves, but coating material waste increases and non-target surfaces become coated
Solution Approach 1:
The mandrel channels provide localized delivery paths for coating material, directing it specifically to surfaces requiring coating (abluminal surface) while avoiding other surfaces. This local quality approach ensures complete coverage of target areas without unnecessary material deposition elsewhere, reducing waste while maintaining coverage completeness.
3Manufacturing precision
If a narrow spray stream is used to target specific surfaces, then coating precision improves, but coating application time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple channels on the mandrel merge the coating material flow into a coordinated delivery system that targets multiple surfaces simultaneously. This combining approach maintains high precision by directing material through specific channels to specific surfaces while improving productivity by coating multiple areas in parallel rather than sequentially.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively reduces coating material deposition on non-target surfaces, ensuring high coverage on the abluminal surface while minimizing defects, thereby enhancing site-specific drug delivery and manufacturing integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a spray head configured to generate a spray stream of material
Implementation Method 2
The mandrel can be configured to rotate around the lengthwise axis
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to systems and methods for applying coatings to devices. In an embodiment, the invention includes a coating apparatus including a mandrel having a lengthwise axis and an exterior surface, the exterior surface of the mandrel defining a plurality of channels disposed parallel to the lengthwise axis, the mandrel configured to rotate around the lengthwise axis; and a spray head configured to direct a stream of material at the mandrel. In an embodiment the invention includes a method of applying a coating to a medical device. Other embodiments are also included herein.