Stent crimping tool and method of use
First Claim
1. A tool for crimping a stent on to a balloon portion of a catheter, comprising:
- a base plate having a press area and at least one boss;
a compression plate having a press area, and an elongated diameter opening;
a pivot linking the boss and the elongated diameter opening so that the compression plate moves linearly and rotatably relative to a longitudinal axis of the pivot; and
a tapered profile pad having ridges disposed on the press area of the base plate;
whereby the stent is mounted on the balloon portion and aligned with the ridges of the tapered profile pad, and the compression plate is closed thereon to crimp the stent on to the balloon portion.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hand held tool for crimping a stent onto a balloon of a catheter is disclosed. The stent crimping tool is operated in one hand by squeezing two plates together while simultaneously displacing the plates linearly to crimp and roll the stent held between the plates. Specifically, the crimping tool includes a base plate with two bosses through which respective pins pass linking the base plate to a compression plate. The compression plate has elongated diameter openings at opposite sides thereof to receive the pins. With the elongated diameter openings, the compression plate can pivot at the pins and translate linearly relative to those pins thus enabling the rolling action during the crimping process. A compression profile pad and a tapered profile pad are attached to the crimping areas of the plates to grip and together apply pressure to the uncrimped stent held therebetween. The pads may include specific contours in order to impart a desired profile to the crimped stent.
212 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A tool for crimping a stent on to a balloon portion of a catheter, comprising:
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a base plate having a press area and at least one boss; a compression plate having a press area, and an elongated diameter opening; a pivot linking the boss and the elongated diameter opening so that the compression plate moves linearly and rotatably relative to a longitudinal axis of the pivot; and a tapered profile pad having ridges disposed on the press area of the base plate; whereby the stent is mounted on the balloon portion and aligned with the ridges of the tapered profile pad, and the compression plate is closed thereon to crimp the stent on to the balloon portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A tool for crimping a stent on to a balloon portion of a catheter, comprising:
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a base plate having a press area and at least two bosses with one boss on each side of the base plate, and each boss including a hole; a compression plate having a press area, and an elongated diameter opening on each side; a compression profile pad disposed to an underside of the compression plate, wherein the compression profile pad is contoured with a profile of a crimped stent; at least one pin engaging the bosses and the elongated diameters such that the elongated diameters enable the compression plate to move linearly and rotationally about a longitudinal axis of the pin; and a tapered profile pad having ridges disposed on the press area of the base plate; whereby the stent is mounted on the balloon portion and aligned with the ridges of the tapered profile pad, and the compression plate is closed thereon to crimp the stent on to the balloon portion. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for crimping a stent on to a balloon portion of a catheter, comprising the steps of:
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providing a base plate having a press area and at least one boss; providing a compression plate having a compression profile pad with a press area, and an elongated diameter opening; pivotably linking the boss to the elongated diameter opening so that the compression plate moves linearly and rotatably relative to the base plate; and providing a tapered profile pad having ridges disposed on the press area of the base plate; mounting the stent on the balloon portion; aligning the stent mounted on the balloon with the ridges of the tapered profile pad; and closing the compression plate to crimp the stent to the balloon between the compression profile pad and the tapered profile pad. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification