Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A method for eliminating polymeric fibers, polymeric particles or other polymeric surface aberrations or imperfections from a polymeric coating on a medical device, the method comprising the steps of: providing a medical device having a surface generally defined by a skeletal frame having spaces therebetween, wherein at least a portion of said surface is coated with a polymeric material, some of said polymeric material extending across said spaces; and, contacting said polymeric coating with a vaporized solvent, thereby eliminating said polymeric material extending across said spaces.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
86 words
A method for eliminating polymeric fibers, polymeric particles or other polymeric surface aberrations or imperfections from a polymeric coating on a medical device, the method comprising the steps of: providing a medical device having a surface generally defined by a skeletal frame having spaces therebetween, wherein at least a portion of said surface is coated with a polymeric material, some of said polymeric material extending across said spaces; and, contacting said polymeric coating with a vaporized solvent, thereby eliminating said polymeric material extending across said spaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said polymeric material is at least partially soluble in said vaporized solvent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said polymeric material is contacted with said vaporized solvent for between about 0.5 seconds to about 2 hours to thereby eliminate surface fibers, surface particles or other surface aberrations without abrogating the integrity of said polymeric coating over said surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said vaporized solvent is an organic solvent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, polyethers, halocarbons, alkyl amides, cyclic ethers, ethyl acetate, benzene, alkyl-substituted benzene derivatives, alcohols, and combinations thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said polymeric coating is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene oxide (PEO), polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, polycaprolactone, polyurethane, polysiloxane and their copolymers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said polymeric coating includes a therapeutic agent releasably incorporated therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of an anti-thrombogenic agent, an anti-angiogenesis agent, heparin, hirudin, ticlopidine, and Taxol.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said contact between said polymeric coating and said vaporized solvent occurs through a dipping process.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said contact between said polymeric coating and said vaporized solvent occurs through a spraying process.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of coating a medical device with a polymeric material wherein said coating is generally free of polymeric strands, polymeric particles or other polymeric surface aberrations, said method comprising the steps of: providing a medical device having a surface generally defined by a plurality of interconnected stunts with open interstitial spaces therebetween, coating at least a portion of said surface with a polymeric material in a solvent carrier; drying said polymeric material by evaporating at least a portion of said solvent carrier to form a dried polymeric coating, wherein some of said dried polymeric material extends across said interstitial spaces; and, contacting said dried polymeric coating with a vaporized solvent, thereby eliminating said polymeric material extending across said interstitial spaces.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of coating a medical device with a polymeric material wherein said coating is generally free of polymeric strands, polymeric particles or other polymeric surface aberrations, said method comprising the steps of: providing a medical device having a surface generally defined by a plurality of interconnected stunts with open interstitial spaces therebetween, coating at least a portion of said surface with a polymeric material in a solvent carrier; drying said polymeric material by evaporating at least a portion of said solvent carrier to form a dried polymeric coating, wherein some of said dried polymeric material extends across said interstitial spaces; and, contacting said dried polymeric coating with a vaporized solvent, thereby eliminating said polymeric material extending across said interstitial spaces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said polymeric material is contacted with said vaporized solvent for between about 0.5 seconds to about 2 hours to thereby eliminate surface fibers, surface particles or other surface aberrations without abrogating the integrity of said polymeric coating over said surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said vaporized solvent is an organic solvent.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, polyethers, cyclic ethers, ethyl acetate, benzene, alkyl-substituted benzene derivatives, alcohols, and combinations thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said polymeric coating is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene oxide (PEO), polylactic acid, polyclycolic acid, and polycaprolactone, polyurethane, polysiloxane and their copolymers.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for coating a stent with a polymeric material having a therapeutic substance dispersed therein for timed release of said therapeutic substance when said stent is implanted wherein said coating is generally free of polymeric strands, polymeric particles or other polymeric surface aberrations, said method comprising the steps of: providing a stent having a surface generally defined by a plurality of interconnected struts with open interstitial spaces therebetween; coating at least a portion of said surface with a polymeric material in a solvent carrier; drying said polymeric material by evaporating at least a portion of said solvent carrier to form a dried polymeric coating, wherein some of said dried polymeric material extends across said interstitial spaces; and, contacting said dried polymeric coating with a vaporized solvent, thereby eliminating said polymeric material extending across said interstitial spaces.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for coating a stent with a polymeric material having a therapeutic substance dispersed therein for timed release of said therapeutic substance when said stent is implanted wherein said coating is generally free of polymeric strands, polymeric particles or other polymeric surface aberrations, said method comprising the steps of: providing a stent having a surface generally defined by a plurality of interconnected struts with open interstitial spaces therebetween; coating at least a portion of said surface with a polymeric material in a solvent carrier; drying said polymeric material by evaporating at least a portion of said solvent carrier to form a dried polymeric coating, wherein some of said dried polymeric material extends across said interstitial spaces; and, contacting said dried polymeric coating with a vaporized solvent, thereby eliminating said polymeric material extending across said interstitial spaces.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said polymeric material is at least partially soluble in said vaporized solvent.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said polymeric material is contacted with said vaporized solvent for between about 0.5 seconds to about 2 hours to thereby eliminate surface fibers, surface particles or other surface aberrations without abrogating the integrity of said polymeric coating over said surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said vaporized solvent is an organic solvent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, polyethers, halocarbons, alkyl amides, cyclic ethers, ethyl acetate, benzene, alkyl-substituted benzene derivatives, alcohols, and combinations thereof.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said polymeric coating is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene oxide (PEO), polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, polycaprolactone, polyurethane, polysiloxane, and their copolymers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said contact between said polymeric coating and said vaporized solvent occurs through a dipping process.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said contact between said polymeric coating and said vaporized solvent occurs through a spraying process.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said therapeutic substances include anti-proliferative agents, anti-thrombogenic agents, or a combination thereof.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said therapeutic substance in said polymeric material is contacted with said vaporized solvent.