System and method for coating medical devices

摘要

A system and method for photo-grafting a coating polymer onto the surface of a medical device are provided. The system comprises a plurality of stations including a novel grafting station. The system and method of the invention are both time- and resource-efficient. The system includes several stations, each station including a dipping tank. The system allows for the automated, semi-automated, or manual dipping of medical devices into the dipping tanks in a specified order, as desired, wherein at least one of the stations is a grafting station for photo-grafting the coating polymer onto the surface of the medical device. The system is modular, which allows for modification of the process as required, depending on the needs of the user. The system may comprise stations for incorporating an antimicrobial agent into the coating, and/or for rendering the coating lubricious.

主权项

1. A system for grafting a coating polymer onto a surface of a device, the system comprising:
a) a photoinitiator station comprising a photoinitiator tank for coating said device with a photoinitiator solution; b) a grafting station comprising:
i) a grafting tank, for submerging said device into a polymerizable solution;ii) a diffuser coupled to a gas feed, disposed within said grafting tank for bubbling an oxygen-scavenging gas from said gas feed into said polymerizable solution; andiii) a UV light source, positioned to expose said device to UV light for activating the photoinitiator on said device; wherein said grafting is effected by submerging said device in said polymerizable solution while bubbling said gas therethrough and exposing said device to said UV light source; and c) a rail, for transferring said device from said photoinitiator tank to said grafting tank without first drying said device.