US Patent 6979348 Reflowed drug-polymer coated stent and method thereof

The present invention provides a method of forming a drug-polymer coated stent. A polymeric coating is applied onto at least a portion of a stent framework and dried. A jet of heated gas is directed towards excess coating portions of the dried polymeric coating. The excess coating portions, which extend into apertures of the stent framework, are removed from the apertures of the stent framework by reflowing the polymeric coating with the directed jet of heated gas. A drug-polymer coated stent with a reflowed drug-polymer coating and a system for treating a vascular condition are also disclosed.