Method and apparatus for automated handling of medical devices during manufacture
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United States of America Patent
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May 19, 2009
Grant Date -
Oct 28, 2004
app pub date -
Apr 25, 2003
filing date -
Apr 25, 2003
priority date (Note) -
In Force
status (Latency Note)
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for automated handling of stents using tape and reel, tray or cassette processing equipment is provided to reduce stent and coating damage during production, storage and distribution, and to allow high volume processing. In the tape reel-based system, stents are fed into an automated tape assembly device for orientation and then fed between a carrier and cover tape. The tape assembly is gathered onto a reel and loaded into a receiver wherein stent-bearing tape is fed into an automated tape separator, and stents removed from the tape assembly are automatically mounted onto holders, which pass the stents through a coater. In the tray- or cassette-based system, the tape reel-based storage and feeding elements are replaced with tray- or cassette-based elements. Once coated, automated equipment removes the holders from the coated stents, and forwarded to alternative destinations, including storage or automated stent expansion balloon installation and crimping.
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