Press Release

MicroFab receives SBIR award from National Institute of Health for the development of an ink-jet based coating system for drug coated cardiovascular stents

Plano, Texas (September 1, 2005)

MicroFab Technologies announces the award of a SBIR program entitled, “Ink-jet system for coating cardiovascular stents”. This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will be directed by Dr. Bogdan Antohe (PI) and has the objective of designing and building an ink-jet based system for coating cardiovascular stents with polymer-drug solutions. Previous clinical trials have proven drug-coated stents to be superior to the uncoated stents by significantly reducing the restenosis risk. Current manufacturing methods are not easily controlled, are wasteful from a material standpoint, and could result in non-uniform coating or could deposit material in undesired areas. An ink-jet based stent coating system is a very flexible manufacturing tool. The ink-jet process is data controlled so it allows to easily change between different stent configurations and to create very complex coating patterns. The coating can be deposited on the stent struts only and can consist of multiple layers of different drugs or polymers with control of the local distribution of the coat thickness and composition within the coating.

“The drug coating stents are becoming the first choice for the interventional cardiologist to open blocked arteries because they dramatically reduce the incidence of arteries reclogging. We are very excited to receive this NIH SBIR award because the system to be developed has a significant potential of becoming a tool for the next generation stents”, said Dr. David Wallace, MicroFab’s Vice President for Technology Development. “MicroFab will use its experience in building ink-jet systems and its know how in dispensing drug and polymer solutions to develop the drug coating system. The flexibility of the ink-jet deposition will enable MicroFab to further the research for the next generation of drug-coated stents. The ink-jet based coating system will permit the deposition of different drug and polymer solutions in a layered structure having the capability to adjust the layer thicknesses locally providing additional control mechanisms for the drug release in the bloodstream.”

About the Company

Based in Plano, Texas, MicroFab Technologies has pioneered digital microdispensing technologies for the past 18 years. MicroFab’s mission is to be the leading global supplier of printing platforms, devices, and services that enable high-payoff applications for microdispensing and precision printing in a wide range of industries. Commercial applications of the technology include microdispensing of electrical and optical polymers, bioactive materials (Proteins, DNA, Reagents), solder, adhesives, and nanoparticle laden fluids.

Contact Information

MicroFab Technologies is at www.microfab.com. Contact Dr. David B. Wallace, Vice-President, Technology Development, at microinfo4@microfab.com or by phone at 972-578-8076 (ext. 12).