An automated apparatus and method for coating medical devices such as anintravascular stent, are disclosed in themethod, a 2-D image of a stent is processed to determine (1 ) paths along thestent skeletal elements by which a stent secured to arotating support element can be traversed by a dispenser head whose relativemotion with respect to the support element is along thesupport-element axis, such that some or all of the stent skeletal elementswill be traversed (2) the relative speeds of the dispenserhead and support element as the dispenser head travels along the paths, and(3), and positions of the dispenser head with respectto a centerline of the stent elements as the dispenser head travels along suchpaths The rotational speed of the support and relativelinear speed of the dispenser are controlled to achieve the desired coatingthickness and coating coverage on the upper surfaces, andoptionally, the side surfaces, of the stent elements
