Methods for improving stent retention on a balloon catheter
First Claim
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1. A method of crimping a stent onto a balloon of a catheter assembly, comprising:
- positioning a stent over a balloon of a catheter assembly;
placing the stent and the balloon of the catheter assembly in a crimping device;
inflating the balloon with an inflation fluid to a selected pressure, wherein the balloon has a rated burst pressure, and the selected pressure is greater than the rated burst pressure;
crimping the stent to the balloon while the balloon is inflated to the selected pressure;
releasing at least a portion of the inflation fluid from the balloon;
after releasing at least a portion of the inflation fluid from the balloon, restraining the stent and the balloon with an outer sleeve; and
after restraining the stent and the balloon with the outer sleeve, applying pressure and heat to the stent and the balloon.
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Abstract
A method of crimping a stent on a balloon of a catheter assembly is provided. A polymeric stent is disposed over a balloon in an inflated configuration. The stent is crimped over the inflated balloon to a reduced crimped configuration so that the stent is secured onto the balloon. The balloon wall membrane is wedged or pinched between the strut elements of the stent for increasing the retention of the stent on the balloon.
428 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of crimping a stent onto a balloon of a catheter assembly, comprising:
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positioning a stent over a balloon of a catheter assembly; placing the stent and the balloon of the catheter assembly in a crimping device; inflating the balloon with an inflation fluid to a selected pressure, wherein the balloon has a rated burst pressure, and the selected pressure is greater than the rated burst pressure; crimping the stent to the balloon while the balloon is inflated to the selected pressure; releasing at least a portion of the inflation fluid from the balloon; after releasing at least a portion of the inflation fluid from the balloon, restraining the stent and the balloon with an outer sleeve; and after restraining the stent and the balloon with the outer sleeve, applying pressure and heat to the stent and the balloon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification