Benchtop Medical Stent Coating System
The MediCoat DES 1000 is a turn-key solution for the development of processes for coating arterial metal and bioabsorbable drug eluting stents with anti-restinosis polymers.Sono-Tek has extensive experience spraying drug eluting polymer solutions to create uniform thin film coatings onto implantable stents of any geometry, without webbing of the polymer coating. The soft atomized spray adheres well to surfaces and coating morphology characteristics can be adjusted by modifying process parameters.
Our MediCoat technology provides organizations such as the US FDA, as well as many global stent manufacturers, with the ability to test and produce high quality repeatable polymer coatings.
MediCoat DES 1000 System benefits:
- Industry proven success in producing high quality stent coatings
- Integrated control of the nozzle, liquid delivery, and stent movement/rotational device
- Soft, low-velocity spray can be targeted with unmatched precision
- Small ultrasonically generated drops provide excellent penetration and inhibit webbing
- Minimal overspray (minimal waste)
- Wide range of delivery rates from 0.3-100 ml/hour
- Self-cleaning ultrasonic nozzle prevents clogging
- All system components are compatible with the typical
solvents and polymers used in stent coating
(For example: solvents THF, acetone,DMAC, toluene, chloroform;
polymers: urethanes, polycarbonates, silicones, styrenes)
Operating Principle
The MediCoat™ Benchtop Stent Coating system combines Sono-Tek’s unique microspray atomizing nozzle with low-pressure gas to produce a soft, highly focused beam of atomized spray drops. Compressed gas, typically at 1 psi, is introduced into the diffusion chamber of the air shroud, producing a uniformly distributed flow of air around the nozzle’s atomizing surface.
The ultrasonically produced spray created is immediately entrained in the air stream. An adjustable focusing mechanism on the air shroud allows complete control of the spray width.
The customer has the option of attaching a custom stent holding device onto the rotating mandrel. The stent is manually loaded onto the stent rotation device and is rotated at a fixed speed, controlled by the user. The stent moves horizontally side-to-side beneath the target area. The number of horizontal passes made are programmable.
A low-velocity exhaust located below the spray area maintains a negative air pressure to assure that any unwanted mist beyond the target area is removed. The system’s unique glove box design allows for safe and convenient access to the stent load and unload area. Large, unobstructed viewing windows and high-intensity internal LED lighting allow for easy observation. With integrated controls for triggering the ultrasonic atomization, liquid delivery and stent movement, the MediCoat™ DES 1000 Stent Coating System provides a complete solution for developing a stent coating process.
