A METHOD OF COATING AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE

摘要

A method of coating an implantable medical device (10) with a fluid dispensed from a jet nozzle (45) is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: determining a desired surface area of coating for the device; defining a set of discreet points within the desired surface area; dispensing a charge of liquid from the jet nozzle (45) towards a first of the points; driving the jig (30) or the jet nozzle (45), or both the jig (30) and the jet nozzle (45) into another relative position and orientation adjacent to another of the points; dispensing a charge of liquid towards said another of the points; and repeating the above two steps until a desired coating is achieved. The method may also include the feedback steps of: capturing images of portions of the desired surface area of coating on which a charge or charges of fluid have been dispensed; analysing the images; and modifying at least one of the above steps of driving or dispensing based on the analysis of the images, thereby improving the coating.