Aspects herein relate to coating apparatus and methods for coating medical devices. In an embodiment, a coating system is included having a valve, a fluid supply reservoir in fluid communication with the valve, a reciprocating positive displacement pump in fluid communication with the valve, and a fluid applicator in fluid communication with the three-way valve. The valve can be configured to assume a first fluid transport state and a second fluid transport state, wherein the valve provides fluid communication between the fluid supply reservoir and the reciprocating positive displacement pump when in the first fluid transport state for filling of the reciprocating positive displacement pump, and wherein the valve provides fluid communication between the reciprocating positive displacement pump and the fluid applicator when in the second fluid transport state for applying a coating suspension to a medical device surface. Other embodiments are also included herein.