ABSTRACT
The proliferation of medical technology in the areas of drug therapy, less invasive surgery, ophthalmic devices, implants, and tissue replacement has created with it a similar impetus for further development of surface modification techniques. A typical coating unit consists of a tank or bath, filled with the coating formulation, and a drive mechanism, upon which devices are mounted for immersion and withdrawal. Fixturing must be designed to prevent any damage to the coated device and to ensure the proper aspect of the device during immersion into and withdrawal from the fluid. The stability of coating components is crucial to the success of a given operation. Probably the most simple of concepts is that of dip coating, involving a vessel filled with the coating formulation into which the device is immersed and then withdrawn. The choice of curing mechanism will depend on the formulation components and the device being coated.
