Method and apparatus for compressing/loading stent-valves

• US 10,245,145 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2014
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Medical Device Limited (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symetis SA (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Mantanus, Luc, Lombardi, Fabien, Simonin, Pierre, Biadillah, Youssef, Hefti, Jean-Luc, Delaloye, Stephane
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Lee D
• Application Number:
  US15/022,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20160228249A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,659 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2436 Deployment by retracting a sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9522 Means for mounting a stent or stent-graft onto or into a placement instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/97 the outer sleeve being splittable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0008 Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0018 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0091 transparent or translucent

Abstract

Apparatus (40) for compressing a transcatheter cardiac stent-valve (10) comprises: a first compressor stage (100) including a hollow channel (42) with a tapered interior surface configured for compressing a stent-valve in response to longitudinal advancement of the stent-valve within the channel; and a second compressor stage (102) comprising a crimper for compressing a portion of the stent-valve without longitudinal advancement.

Claims

1. An apparatus configured to compress a cardiac stent-valve for loading into a delivery catheter, the apparatus comprising:

a first compressor stage for compressing the stent-valve,

wherein the first compressor stage comprises a hollow channel, and the first compressor stage is configured for progressively compressing the stent-valve in response to, or in association with, longitudinal advancement of an advancing member against the stent-valve within the hollow channel; and

a second compressor stage coupled or couplable to the first compressor stage and configured to further compress a portion of the stent-valve after passing through the first compressor stage,

wherein the second compressor stage comprises a crimper having jaws defining a chuck.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second compressor stage is configured to compress a portion of the stent-valve at the second compressor stage without advancement of the stent-valve within the second compressor stage.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second compressor stage is releasably coupled at, or to be at, an exit of the first compressor stage.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the crimper comprises a plurality of movable elements.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second compressor stages are operated by respective rotary actuators that are rotatable about a common axis, optionally a longitudinal axis of the apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second compressor stage is releasably securable to the first compressor stage using a screw threaded actuator for actuating the second compressor stage.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first compressor stage comprises one or more of (i) a mover for applying to a stent-valve within the hollow channel, a pushing force from radially outside the hollow channel;

and/or (ii) a driver for applying a pushing force radially outside the hollow channel to a portion of the mover radially outside the hollow channel.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the mover comprises a ring from which plural limbs project inwardly, the limbs sliding in slots through a wall of the channel, for applying a pushing force to a stent-valve within the channel.