Patent attributes
Methods of coating a medical device are provided to improve coating uniformity and reduce coating irregularities while reducing direct coating of the luminal surface of the medical device. Preferably, methods of coating a tubular medical device include the steps of: positioning the tubular medical device around a mandrel coating assembly, mounting the tubular medical device on the mandrel coating assembly and spraying a coating solution including a therapeutic agent and a solvent onto the abluminal surface of the tubular medical device mounted on the mandrel coating assembly. The mandrel coating assembly may include an axial member of a diameter that is less than the diameter of the lumen of the tubular medical device and at least one annular projection extending from the axial member to an outer surface having a diameter greater than or substantially equal to the diameter of the lumen of the medical device. Improved coating uniformity may be achieved by providing an annular space between the luminal surface of the medical device and an axial member. Coating on the luminal surface may be minimized by providing an axial member having an outer diameter that is greater than the maximum width or length of the spray contacting the axial member after passing through the openings in the medical device.
