Stent crimper
First Claim
1. A method of reducing the diameter of a stent in cross-section, the method comprising the steps of:
- 1) providing an apparatus for applying an inward force to said stent, the apparatus comprising a first body portion, a second body portion and a plurality of movable blades arranged to form an aperture whose size may be varied, at least one blade pivotally attached to the first body portion and slidably engaged with the second body portion, wherein at least two blades overlap one another in a direction parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the aperture;
2) disposing said stent within the aperture; and
3) reducing the size of the aperture to apply an inward force to said stent, thereby reducing the diameter of the stent.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for reducing the size of a medical device, the apparatus including at least one independently operable discrete section which can reduce the diameter of the medical device, the independently operable discrete section including a plurality of coupled movable blades arranged to form an aperture whose size may be varied, the blades movable so as to allow the aperture to be sized to contain a medical device and to alter the size of the aperture. The blades may be curved and/or overlapping. Each blade may be pivotally connected to a first member or mount and slidably engaged with a second member or collar. The size of the aperture may be adjusted by rotating the collar relative to the mount.
123 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of reducing the diameter of a stent in cross-section, the method comprising the steps of:
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1) providing an apparatus for applying an inward force to said stent, the apparatus comprising a first body portion, a second body portion and a plurality of movable blades arranged to form an aperture whose size may be varied, at least one blade pivotally attached to the first body portion and slidably engaged with the second body portion, wherein at least two blades overlap one another in a direction parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the aperture; 2) disposing said stent within the aperture; and 3) reducing the size of the aperture to apply an inward force to said stent, thereby reducing the diameter of the stent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of reducing the diameter of a medical device in cross-section, the method comprising the steps of:
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1) providing an apparatus for applying an inward force to said medical device, the apparatus comprising a mount, a collar and a plurality of movable blades arranged to form an aperture whose size may be varied by rotating the collar with respect to the mount, each blade being pivotally attached to the mount and slidably engaged with the collar, at least two blades overlapping in a direction parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the aperture, wherein the collar may be rotated with respect to the mount by a drive device comprising a lead screw, a ball screw, a solenoid, a movable rack actuator, a stepper motor or combination thereof; 2) disposing a medical device within the aperture; and 3) reducing the size of the aperture to apply an inward force to said medical device, thereby reducing the diameter of the medical device.
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- 13. An apparatus for applying an inward force to a medical device, said apparatus comprising a plurality of coupled movable blades arranged to form an aperture whose size may be varied, the aperture having a central longitudinal axis, the blades including a first blade and a second blade, each blade comprising a contacting surface for contacting the medical device, the first blade overlapping the second blade in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the aperture, each blade having a thickness dimension in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the aperture, wherein a circumference of the aperture oriented orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis contacts the contacting surface of the first blade and the contacting surface of the second blade.
- 19. An apparatus for applying an inward force to a medical device, the apparatus comprising a first body portion, a second body portion and at least three coupled movable blades arranged to form an aperture whose size may be varied, each blade pivotally connected to the first body portion and slidably engaged with the second body portion, wherein at least two blades overlap one another in a direction parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the aperture.
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26. An apparatus for applying an inward force to a medical device, the apparatus comprising a mount, a rotatable collar and plurality of coupled movable blades arranged to form an aperture of variable size, each blade pivotally connected to the mount and slidably engaged with the rotatable collar, the size of the aperture being controlled by the rotational orientation of the rotatable collar with respect to the mount, wherein at least two blades overlap one another in a direction parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the aperture;
wherein each blade further comprises a pivot pin;
the mount further comprises a plurality of apertures; and
each aperture receives the pivot pin of a blade.- View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. An apparatus for applying an inward force to a medical device, the apparatus comprising a plurality of coupled movable blades arranged to form a first aperture of variable size, wherein at least two blades overlap one another in a direction parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the aperture;
the apparatus further comprising a second plurality of blades arranged to form a second aperture whose size may be varied, the second aperture adjustable independently from the first aperture. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33. An apparatus for applying an inward force to a medical device, the apparatus comprising a mount, a rotatable collar and a plurality of coupled movable blades arranged to form an aperture of variable size, each blade pivotally connected to the mount and slidably engaged with the rotatable collar, wherein at least two blades overlap one another in a direction parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the aperture;
wherein the mount, the rotatable collar and the plurality of blades comprise a first crimping section;
the apparatus further comprising a second crimping section, the second crimping section comprising a second rotatable collar and a second plurality of blades arranged to form a second aperture, each crimping section being independently adjustable.- View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. An apparatus for applying an inward force to a medical device, said apparatus comprising a mount, a rotatable collar and a plurality of coupled movable blades arranged to form an aperture whose size may be varied by rotating the collar with respect to the mount;
- each blade being pivotally attached to the mount and slidably engaged with the collar;
each blade having a thickness dimension of 2 mm or less in a direction parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the aperture;
wherein at least two blades overlap one another in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the aperture.
- each blade being pivotally attached to the mount and slidably engaged with the collar;
Specification