METHOD FOR LOADING A MEDICAL DEVICE INTO A DELIVERY SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A process for loading a medical device into a delivery system, the process comprising:
- applying a force to a medical device comprising a shape memory material to obtain a delivery configuration of the medical device, the medical device being at a first temperature within an R-phase temperature range of the shape memory material during the applying;
removing the force from the medical device;
loading the medical device into a delivery system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process to load a medical device comprising a shape memory material into a delivery system is described herein. According to one aspect, the method includes applying a force to the medical device to obtain a delivery configuration thereof, where the device is at a first temperature within an R-phase temperature range of the shape memory material during application of the force. The medical device is cooled in the delivery configuration to a second temperature at or below a martensite finish temperature of the shape memory material. The force is then removed from the medical device, and the device is loaded into a delivery system. Preferably, the medical device substantially maintains the delivery configuration during the loading process.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A process for loading a medical device into a delivery system, the process comprising:
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applying a force to a medical device comprising a shape memory material to obtain a delivery configuration of the medical device, the medical device being at a first temperature within an R-phase temperature range of the shape memory material during the applying; removing the force from the medical device; loading the medical device into a delivery system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A process for loading a medical device into a delivery system, the process comprising:
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applying a force to a medical device comprising a shape memory material to obtain a delivery configuration of the medical device, the medical device being at a first temperature within an R-phase temperature range of the shape memory material during the applying; cooling the medical device in the delivery configuration to a second temperature at or below a martensite finish temperature of the shape memory material; removing the force from the medical device following the cooling; loading the medical device into a delivery system, wherein the medical device substantially maintains the delivery configuration during loading. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A process for a loading a stent into a delivery system, the process comprising:
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cooling a stent comprising a shape memory material from a temperature at or above an austenite finish temperature of the shape memory material to an initial temperature at or below a martensite finish temperature of the shape memory material; warming the stent from the initial temperature to a first temperature at or above an R′
-phase start temperature and below an austenite start temperature of the shape memory material;applying a force to the stent to obtain a compressed configuration of the stent, the stent being at the first temperature during the applying; cooling the stent in the compressed configuration to a second temperature at or below the martensite finish temperature; removing the force from the stent after the cooling in the compressed configuration; and loading the stent into a delivery system after removing the force, wherein the stent substantially maintains the compressed configuration during loading. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification