US Patent 11672992 Valves for use in manufacturing of implantable medical devices

A valve for use in manufacturing of implantable medical devices is insertable into a bore of the medical device during a manufacturing process. The valve is configured to remain closed while the pressure differential between an internal volume of the implantable medical device and a surrounding environment is below a particular threshold and to open when the threshold is reached, thereby allowing air or other fluids to escape from the internal volume into the surrounding environment. The valves are particularly useful during certain types of coating processes that must be performed at or near vacuum and provide an effective way to prevent ingress of coating material into the internal volume of the implantable medical device.