Method for compressing a stented prosthesis
First Claim
1. A method of compressing a stented prosthesis, the method comprising:
- receiving a stented prosthesis in a first state defining a maximum outer diameter;
inserting the stented prosthesis in the first state into a tool, the tool comprising;
a first set of rollers at an entrance end of the tool and including a plurality of rollers arranged to collectively define a first working region having a first working diameter,a second set of rollers at an exit end of the tool and including a plurality of rollers arranged to collectively define a second working region having a second working diameter,wherein the first set of rollers is arranged relative to the second set of rollers such that the first and second working regions are axially aligned along a common centerline,and further wherein the first working diameter is greater than the second working diameter; and
directing the stented prosthesis successively through the first set of rollers followed by the second set of rollers to compress the stented prosthesis to a second state having a maximum outer diameter less than the maximum outer diameter of the first state, wherein the step of directing includes;
the plurality of rollers of the first set of rollers in contact with at least a majority of a circumference of the stented prosthesis in a plane perpendicular to the common centerline as the stented prosthesis passes through the first set of rollers, andthe plurality of rollers of the second set of rollers in contact with at least a majority of the circumference of the stented prosthesis in a plane perpendicular to the common centerline as the stented prosthesis passes through the second set of rollers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tool for compressing a stented prosthesis. The tool includes first and second sets of rollers. The first set includes a plurality of rollers arranged to define a first working region having a first working diameter. The second set includes a plurality of rollers arranged to define a second working region having a second working diameter. The sets of rollers are arranged such that the working regions are axially aligned. The first working diameter is greater than the second working diameter. A stented prosthesis traversing the first working region and then the second working region is forced to a compressed state. In some embodiments, the tool includes one or more intermediate sets of rollers between the first and second sets of rollers, with each of the intermediate sets of rollers defining a working region having a working diameter. The respective working diameters progressively decrease in a downstream direction.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method of compressing a stented prosthesis, the method comprising:
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receiving a stented prosthesis in a first state defining a maximum outer diameter; inserting the stented prosthesis in the first state into a tool, the tool comprising; a first set of rollers at an entrance end of the tool and including a plurality of rollers arranged to collectively define a first working region having a first working diameter, a second set of rollers at an exit end of the tool and including a plurality of rollers arranged to collectively define a second working region having a second working diameter, wherein the first set of rollers is arranged relative to the second set of rollers such that the first and second working regions are axially aligned along a common centerline, and further wherein the first working diameter is greater than the second working diameter; and directing the stented prosthesis successively through the first set of rollers followed by the second set of rollers to compress the stented prosthesis to a second state having a maximum outer diameter less than the maximum outer diameter of the first state, wherein the step of directing includes; the plurality of rollers of the first set of rollers in contact with at least a majority of a circumference of the stented prosthesis in a plane perpendicular to the common centerline as the stented prosthesis passes through the first set of rollers, and the plurality of rollers of the second set of rollers in contact with at least a majority of the circumference of the stented prosthesis in a plane perpendicular to the common centerline as the stented prosthesis passes through the second set of rollers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification