Method of securing a stent on a balloon catheter
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for securing a stent upon a balloon catheter that includes:
- a tubular housing that is open at each end and sized for receiving a balloon catheter having a stent mounted upon a balloon,an inflatable membrane mounted in axial alignment between the ends of said housing,sealing means for sealing respective ends of said membrane to the housing to provide a fluid tight chamber between the membrane and said housing,inflation means for introducing a fluid under pressure into said chamber to inflate said membrane into pressure contact with said stent to uniformly urge the stent into clamping engagement with said balloon, andpositioning means for aligning the stent within the housing.
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Abstract
Apparatus for securing a stent upon a balloon catheter. The apparatus has a tubular housing that is open at each end for containing a balloon catheter in a deflated state upon which is mounted a stent. An inflatable cylindrical membrane is mounted inside the housing and sealed at both ends to provide a fluid tight chamber between the membrane and the housing. A pressurized fluid is introduced into the chamber to inflate the membrane into pressure contact with the stent to urge the stent into gripping engagement with the balloon.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. Apparatus for securing a stent upon a balloon catheter that includes:
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a tubular housing that is open at each end and sized for receiving a balloon catheter having a stent mounted upon a balloon, an inflatable membrane mounted in axial alignment between the ends of said housing, sealing means for sealing respective ends of said membrane to the housing to provide a fluid tight chamber between the membrane and said housing, inflation means for introducing a fluid under pressure into said chamber to inflate said membrane into pressure contact with said stent to uniformly urge the stent into clamping engagement with said balloon, and positioning means for aligning the stent within the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of securing an expandable stent upon a balloon mounted upon a catheter that includes the steps of:
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providing an elongated tubular housing having an opening passing therethrough, mounting a cylindrical inflatable membrane within the housing opening, inserting a balloon catheter carrying a stent upon the balloon into the housing opening and axially centering the stent within the membrane, positioning the stent relative to the membrane within the housing, and introducing a fluid under pressure into the membrane to expand the membrane into pressure contact with said stent to urge the stent into gripping contact with the balloon. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification