Importance

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Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for coating medical devices and the devices thereby produced are disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention includes a method comprising the steps of suspending the medical device in an air stream and introducing a coating material into the air stream such that the coating material is dispersed therein and coats at least a portion of the medical device. In another embodiment, the medical devices are suspended in an air stream and a coating apparatus coats at least a portion of the medical device with a coating material. The coating apparatus may include a device that utilizes any number of alternative coating techniques for coating the medical devices. This process is used to apply one or more coating materials, simultaneously or in sequence. In certain embodiments of the invention, the coating materials include therapeutic agents, polymers, sugars, waxes, or fats. By using air suspensions to coat medical devices, the methods of the present invention result in coatings having minimal defects and uniform thicknesses and mechanical properties. Further, the methods of the present invention are time efficient and cost effective because they facilitate the coating of numerous medical devices in a single batch, resulting in numerous medical device units containing substantially the same coating.

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First Claim